COVID-19 Community
Published January 2021 | Version v1.0.0
Journal Article Open

Expanding Access to COVID-19 Tests through US Postal Service Facilities

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • 2. ROR icon Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • 3. ROR icon Northwestern University
  • 4. ROR icon The University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

Widespread, convenient access to COVID-19 testing has been challenging in the United States. We make a case for provisioning COVID-19 tests through the United States Postal Service (USPS) facilities and demonstrate a simple method for selecting locations to improve access. We provide quantitative evidence that even a subset of USPS facilities could provide broad access, particularly in remote and at-risk communities with limited access to health care. Based on daily travel surveys, census data, locations of USPS facilities, and an established care-seeking model, we estimate that more than 94% of the US population would be willing to travel to an existing USPS facility if warranted. For half of the US population, this would require traveling less than 2.5 miles from home; for 90%, the distance would be less than 7 miles. In Georgia, Illinois, and Minnesota, we estimate that testing at USPS facilities would provide access to an additional 4.1, 3.1, and 1.3 million people and reduce the median travel distance by 3.0, 0.8, and 1.2 miles, respectively, compared with existing testing sites per 28 July 2020. We also discuss the option of distributing test-at-home kits via USPS instead of private carriers. Finally, our proposal provides USPS an opportunity to increase revenues and expand its mission, thus improving its future prospects and relevance.

Abstract

Singh B, Risanger S, Morton D, Pignone M, Meyers LA. Expanding Access to COVID-19 Tests through US Postal Service Facilities. Medical Decision Making. 2021;41(1):3-8.

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Expanding access to COVID-19 tests through US postal services facilities.pdf

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Additional details

Identifiers

PMID
33124494

Related works

Is related to
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0272989X20969690 (URL)

Funding

National Institutes of Health
Accelerating viral outbreak detection in US cities using mechanistic models, machine learning and diverse geospatial data R01 AI151176
National Institutes of Health
Award number U01 GM087791 U01 GM087791
United States Department of Homeland Security
Award number 2017-ST-061-QA0001 2017-ST-061-QA0001
Tito's Handmade Vodka

Dates

Created
2021-01
When the item was originally created.