Amazon, Kroger and Walmart to offer cheaper rapid COVID-19 tests

The ability to quickly check whether one is infected with COVID-19 is about to get easier and less expensive, with Amazon, Kroger and Walmart each set to offer within days at-home, rapid tests — with no retailer price markups, according to the Biden administration.

"Americans will be able to buy these tests at their local retailers or online for up to 35% less starting by the end of this week" and continuing for the next three months, the White House stated Thursday. President Biden described new vaccine mandates and coming federal rules he said were meant to protect the public against the highly contagious Delta variant, with more than 176,000 new COVID-19 infections and 2,146 deaths in the U.S. on Thursday alone.  The far-reaching federal mandates mean many unvaccinated workers will have to test negatively on a weekly basis to keep their jobs. The new Biden rules includes a demand that companies employing more than 100 people either require workers to produce proof of vaccination or undergo weekly testing for COVID-19 if they have medical needs or religious beliefs that exempt them from vaccine mandates.