Thermo Fisher plans to make up to 5 million Covid-10 tests

Thermo Fisher plans to help allay the severe Covid-19 testing shortage in the U.S. — with plans now to develop up to 5 million tests meant to detect novel coronavirus. The company plans to reach that level of production by the week of April 3, the company told STAT’s Matthew Herper. The test was granted emergency clearance by the FDA late Friday.

According to a count from the think tank American Enterprise Institute, the country right now has the ability to run 26,000 tests per day. Roche was also approved Friday to develop its own diagnostic test for Covid-19 — and says it could manufacture 400,000 tests per week.