JAKARTA - The United States government said this week it would temporarily suspend the provision of free COVID-19 self-test kits for residents, due to lack of funds.
"Orders through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 as Congress has not provided additional funding to refill national test supplies," the Covid.gov website said, where US citizens can order tests.
The website has been active since the spike in the Omicron variant in January, when people can order rapid antigen tests for their households.
President Joe Biden's administration has asked Congress to approve at least $22 billion for its COVID package since spring, as lack of funds have consumed access to free test kits for Americans.
A senior administration official told NBC News the United States was storing test supplies in case of a spike in fall and winter, which could mean the website will reopen for orders.
The move could mark changes in the US Government's response to the pandemic and the end of free tests and treatments.
"My hope is that by 2023, you will see the commercialization of almost all of these products," said White House COVID-19 response team coordinator Dr Ashish Jha this month.
"Some of them will actually start in the next few days and weeks," he continued.
The US health agency has recorded an average of seven days from 88,594 daily cases, although that may be less.
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