Re:FDA authorizes rapid, at-home coronavirus test
by pmoriarty on Wednesday December 16, 2020 @02:15PM
(#25447098)
According to that TWiV episode, such tests could cost just $1.
So, according to your estimates of 2 billion tests per week, that would make for $2 billion per week, not $60 billion per week.
As for shipping, the tests need not be shipped via USPS nor need they be shipped individually to every person.
They might be locally manufactured, there could be centralized distribution locations, and people could stock up for a month's or a year's worth of tests at one time, greatly reducing shipping costs (assuming enough tests could be made, of course).
The tests could also be at the very least targeted at locations where there are a lot of infections, further reducing how many tests would need to be manufactured and used.
So, according to your estimates of 2 billion tests per week, that would make for $2 billion per week, not $60 billion per week.
As for shipping, the tests need not be shipped via USPS nor need they be shipped individually to every person.
They might be locally manufactured, there could be centralized distribution locations, and people could stock up for a month's or a year's worth of tests at one time, greatly reducing shipping costs (assuming enough tests could be made, of course).
The tests could also be at the very least targeted at locations where there are a lot of infections, further reducing how many tests would need to be manufactured and used.