At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests

"At-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection.

These at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests are FDA authorized for self-testing at home (or in other locations) without a prescription. Tests are available online or at local stores and  you collect your own sample, perform the test, and read the result yourself without the need to send a sample to a laboratory.

With most at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, you should repeat testing following a negative result, whether you have symptoms or not, to reduce your risk of a false negative test result. For additional information on reading and understanding your test results, see Understanding At-Home OTC COVID-19 Antigen Diagnostic Test Results.

For more information, including answers to frequently asked general questions about at-home COVID-19 diagnostic tests, visit At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.

Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests and Expiration Dates

The table below is updated regularly and lists FDA-authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, including information on expiration dates, who can use the test, links to home use instructions for each test, and other details that may help you decide what test is right for you. For additional information about each Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), see In Vitro Diagnostics EUAs: Tables of IVD EUAs.

In the table below, the "Expiration Date" column lists where to find the expiration date for that test, and the "Other Details" column lists the shelf-life for the test. The shelf-life is how long the test should work as expected and is measured from the date the test was manufactured. The expiration date is set at the end of the shelf-life and is the date through which the test is expected to perform as accurately as when manufactured. In some cases, the expiration date for a test may be extended.

An extended expiration date means the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. For more information about how the expiration date is determined and why it may be extended, see the At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.   

To see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended, first find the row in the below table that matches the manufacturer and test name shown on the box label of your test. If the expiration date has been extended, then the Expiration Date column states "Extended Expiration Date" and links to a document that lists the lot numbers, original expiration dates, and the extended expiration dates. If your lot number and/or original expiration date do not appear, or if the Expiration Date column states “Expiration Date: See box label,” do not use the test beyond the original expiration date on your test. 

Search the table below by manufacturer, test name, or other details shown in the table to find more information on the test, including if the expiration date has been extended. .."
OVID-19 Diagnostic Tests 

More Counties Saw Population Gains in 2023

"MARCH 14, 2024 – More U.S. counties experienced population gains than losses in 2023, as counties in the South saw faster growth and more Northeast and Midwest counties had population losses turn to gains, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2023 estimates of population and components of change released today.

Approximately 60% (1,876) of U.S. counties gained population from 2022 to 2023, an increase from the 52% of counties (1,649) that experienced population growth between 2021 and 2022. Among the nation's 3,144 counties, the average change from 2022 to 2023 was 0.29%, up from 0.17% the previous year.

“Domestic migration patterns are changing, and the impact on counties is especially evident,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch. “Areas which experienced high levels of domestic out-migration during the pandemic, such as in the Midwest and Northeast, are now seeing more counties with population growth. Meanwhile, county population growth is slowing down out west, such as in Arizona and Idaho.”

This was the first time since 2020 that more counties in the Midwest had population gains (542) than losses (513), narrowing the average annual change among the region's 1,055 counties to a loss of 0.02% from a loss of 0.09% a year earlier.."
County Population Estimates 2023i 

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

"Colorectal cancer screening saves lives.

Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re 45 to 75 years old, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re younger than 45 and think you may be at high risk of getting colorectal cancer, or if you’re older than 75, talk to your doctor about screening.

Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.

Screening Test Options

Several screening tests can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer, including some that you can do at home. Each test has advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each test, and how often to be tested

Colorectal Cancer 

ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT OF THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

"This annual report of worldwide threats to the national security of the United States responds to Section 617 of the FY21 Intelligence Authorization Act (Pub. L. No. 116-260). This report reflects the collective insights of the Intelligence Community (IC), which is committed every day to providing the nuanced, independent, and unvarnished intelligence that policymakers, warfighters, and domestic law enforcement personnel need to protect American lives and America’s interests anywhere in the world.

This assessment focuses on the most direct, serious threats to the United States primarily during the next year. The order of the topics presented in this assessment does not necessarily indicate their relative importance or the magnitude of the threats in the view of the IC. All require a robust intelligence response, including those where a near-term focus may help head off greater threats in the future..."
Annual Threat Assessment  

What You Need to Know About the Gender Wage Gap

"

March 12 is Equal Pay Day – which represents the date into the year women must work in order to earn the same amount as the average man the previous year. But what does that mean? And what can we say about the gender wage gap today? 

Here are five fast facts: 

• Overall, women are paid less than men. On average, women working full-time, year-round are paid 84% of what men are paid. In other words, the typical woman working full-time would need to work from January 1, 2023, until March 12, 2024, to make what the typical man working full-time made in 2023. This wage gap also persists within all major race and ethnic groups. For instance, Hispanic women ($41,137 median annual salary) make 13% less than Hispanic men ($47,420 median annual salary). This inequity is even greater for Black and Hispanic women when compared to white, non-Hispanic men.   

• The largest identifiable causes of the gender wage gap are differences in the occupations and industries where women and men are most likely to work. In 2023, Black women lost $42.7 billion and Hispanic women lost $53.3 billion in wages as compared to white men due to the impact of occupational segregation. However, even within the same occupation, women make less on average than men. 

View our new fact sheet on lost wages due to occupational segregation for Black and Hispanic women.

• A woman must complete at least one additional educational degree to earn as much as a man with less education. For instance, on average, a woman with an advanced degree earns less than a man with a bachelor’s degree. Were it not for the fact that women attain a greater number of degrees than men, the gender wage gap would be even larger. 

• The wage gap is larger for mothers and results in employment-related losses of more than $295,000 over a lifetime. This results in women having lower average incomes in retirement and less financial stability in old age. 

• Discrimination remains a likely leading cause of the gender wage gap. Just since Fiscal Year 2022, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice have collectively recovered over $20 million in monetary relief for women who have experienced pay discrimination in the workplace... 

View our Equal Pay webpage..."
Gender Wage Gap 

Breakfast in America: Brought to You by Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin

"Now that the 2022 Census of Agriculture data are available, we can take a closer look at updated agricultural statistics in U.S. regions, states and counties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) divides the U.S. states by region, and we're going to first take a look at the Upper Midwest Region, which includes Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Each of these states has their own agricultural accomplishments, but together accounted for over 16% of the national total value of agricultural products sold in 2022. All three states rank in the top 10 for the total value of agricultural products sold, which includes sales of all products produced by farmers in each state.

Producers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin together provide much of what we see on our breakfast plates. Let’s break our fast on ag census blogs and start this monthly series with breakfast foods and the state rankings for these important staples.

• Pancake mix and bread: Minnesota is second in spring wheat production and third in buckwheat production.
• Oatmeal and cereal: Minnesota is second, Wisconsin fourth and Iowa sixth in oat production.
• Scrambled eggs: Iowa is first, Minnesota eighth and Wisconsin 17th in egg layers for the kitchen table.
• Bacon: Iowa is first, Minnesota second and Wisconsin 18th in hog inventory.
• Maple syrup: Wisconsin is fourth, Minnesota 11th and Iowa 14th in maple syrup production.
• Sugar: Minnesota is first in sugarbeet production.
• Milk: Wisconsin is second, Minnesota seventh and Iowa 10th in milk sales.
• Honey: Minnesota is fourth, Wisconsin 16th and Iowa 19th in honey production.

So, thank farmers for all the commodities they produce – especially when you start your morning at the breakfast table or treat yourself with breakfast for dinner! For more 2022 ag census data about these three states, browse our state agricultural statistics..."
2022 Agriculture Census 

Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern

" By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

     I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, hereby expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain), and further addressed with additional measures in Executive Order 14034 of June 9, 2021 (Protecting Americans’ Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries).  The continuing effort of certain countries of concern to access Americans’ sensitive personal data and United States Government-related data constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Access to Americans’ bulk sensitive personal data or United States Government-related data increases the ability of countries of concern to engage in a wide range of malicious activities.  Countries of concern can rely on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to analyze and manipulate bulk sensitive personal data to engage in espionage, influence, kinetic, or cyber operations or to identify other potential strategic advantages over the United States.  Countries of concern can also use access to bulk data sets to fuel the creation and refinement of AI and other advanced technologies, thereby improving their ability to exploit the underlying data and exacerbating the national security and foreign policy threats.  In addition, access to some categories of sensitive personal data linked to populations and locations associated with the Federal Government — including the military — regardless of volume, can be used to reveal insights about those populations and locations that threaten national security.  The growing exploitation of Americans’ sensitive personal data threatens the development of an international technology ecosystem that protects our security, privacy, and human rights..

     Accordingly, to address this threat and to take further steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13873,.."
Preventing Access to Personal Data 

CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

"CDC released today updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. CDC is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because we have more tools than ever to combat flu, COVID, and RSV.

“Today’s announcement reflects the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “However, we still must use the commonsense solutions we know work to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses—this includes vaccination, treatment, and staying home when we get sick.”

As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:

• Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
• Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
• Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. CDC’s updated guidance reflects how the circumstances around COVID-19 in particular have changed. While it remains a threat, today it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease.  Importantly, states and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19..."
CDC Respiratory Virus Recommendations 

Why Micronutrients Matter

"Micronutrients, often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and well-being.
We only need small amounts of micronutrients, but getting the recommended amount is important. Micronutrient deficiencies can have devastating consequences. Here are six essential micronutrients and why they are important to our health.

Iron helps develop the brain of a fetus and child. Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia. Severe anemia during pregnancy can result in poor fetal growth, preterm birth, or low birth weight. Anemia during pregnancy also increases the risk of death for both the mother and baby. In addition, iron deficiency limits physical productivity and work capacity. See more.

Folate is a general term for many different forms of vitamin B9, which is essential in the earliest days of fetal growth. Folic acid, the form of folate found in supplements and fortified foods, is the only form shown to prevent serious birth defects of the brain, spinal cord, and skull. These birth defects are often preventable if women get enough folic acid before and during early pregnancy. See more.

Vitamin A supports healthy eyesight and immune system functions. Children who are deficient face an increased risk of blindness and death from infections such as measles and diarrhea. See more.

Iodine is also required during pregnancy and early infancy for brain and cognitive development. Iodine deficiency can lead to developmental delays and is the most common cause of preventable mental retardation. See more.

Zinc promotes immunity, resistance to infection, and proper growth and development of the nervous system. This mineral is also important for healthy pregnancies. See more.

Vitamin D is essential for bone health as well as muscle and nerve functions. Vitamin D also helps the immune system fight off bacteria and viruses. See more..."
Micronutrients