(Reuters] – As part of its efforts to reduce the nationwide testing shortage, the Biden administration has announced $70million to improve the accessibility and cost effectiveness of COVID-19 rapid tests.

Due to the high demand from American employers for testing during the Delta variant rise, and the U.S. Government mandating that large employers have all employees inoculated every week, the cost of state and local testing has risen.

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated Monday that “access to affordable, reliable and easy-to use COVID testing is crucial to bringing comfort to our families as we approach winter.”

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will invest $70 million and work with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to help accelerate the review process to bring more tests to the U.S. market. FDA will also streamline its regulatory path for over-the counter at-home test manufacturers.

The U.S. FDA also announced it has granted emergency use authorization to Celltrion Diatrust for an additional rapid antigen test. Thus, there are now 10 rapid at-home testing options available.

For rapid COVID-19 test procurement, approximately $3Billion has been invested by the U.S. Government.