Amazon limits variety of exams you should buy

Amazon has restricted gross sales of its at-home Covid-19 take a look at kits amid a surge in demand tied to fears across the fast-spreading omicron variant.

Coronavirus circumstances are on the rise as soon as once more within the U.S. because the extremely contagious omicron pressure spreads and is now thought of the dominant Covid variant within the nation, representing 73% of sequenced circumstances. The spike has led to a flurry of demand for exams forward of the vacations, as many People put together to journey and collect with their households.

There have been widespread stories of lengthy traces at Covid testing websites, whereas some pharmacies’ cabinets of at-home Covid exams have change into naked. In response to the surge, Walgreens and CVS Well being stated Tuesday they had been limiting what number of at-home Covid exams prospects should buy each in-store and on-line.

An Amazon spokesperson instructed CNBC that the corporate is experiencing stock shortages of some Covid exams as a consequence of elevated demand. The corporate is working to safe extra Covid take a look at stock from its promoting companions, the spokesperson stated.

As of Wednesday, Amazon has restricted the variety of purchases of its personal at-home PCR take a look at equipment to 10 items per shopper.

In the meantime, exams accessible from different distributors on its market had been additionally capped. The highest-selling at-home Covid take a look at, made by California-based iHealth Labs, was restricted to 5 exams per individual.

It is as much as third-party sellers and distributors to set their very own buy limits, the Amazon spokesperson stated. Amazon did not reply to questions asking when it started experiencing take a look at shortages.

The shortage of exams comes as President Joe Biden stated Tuesday the federal government will buy 500 million at-home exams that People can order on-line without spending a dime. Supply of the kits will start subsequent month.

WATCH: Biden administration to distribute 500 million free at-home Covid exams