Google Answers Biden’s Call To Improve Access To COVID Resources

Stony Brook, N.Y.: A digital sign directs people to the drive-through coronavirus testing area which … [+] began on the main campus of Stony Brook University on March 18, 2020. Those wishing to be tested must first make an appointment. (Photo by John Paraskevas/Newsday RM vis Getty Images)

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Americans are rushing to get vaccinated or tested, thanks to the spread of the omicron variant during the holiday season. 

As a result, it has been a challenge for many to find a COVID test or a healthcare setting that offers booster shots. Photos shared on social media show lines of people waiting sometimes hours to get tested across the U.S. Some medical offices, overwhelmed by the demand, have temporarily closed locations, including the popular CityMD clinics.

Americans have also had trouble finding COVID testing resources that come at no cost, as some have outlined that the cost of purchasing an at-home COVID test from a pharmacy can cost north of $25. 

In response, Google has expanded its knowledge base of COVID testing sites, adding thousands of locations to Google Search and Google Maps. Users can Google “covid vaccines near me” or “free covid testing near me” and receive an expanded list of locations. 

The expansion reportedly came at the request of the Biden Administration, The Information reports. Biden recently outlined a plan to fight the Omicron variant, a plain that included free at-home tests and…

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