Amazon to limit how many COVID-19 tests you can buy amid Omicron surge

Amazon and vendors on its online marketplace have placed purchase limits on at-home Covid tests amid a surge in demand ahead of the holidays and the fast-spreading omicron variant.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Amazon said it is placing a limit on the number of its branded at-home COVID tests can be purchased in an order. Currently, consumers can buy a maximum of 10 tests.

Amazon cites inventory shortages due to increased demand. “We are working hard to secure additional COVID-19 test inventory available from our selling partners,” said the company.

Other retailers have imposed similar limits on the number of tests consumers can buy. Both CVS and Walgreens have purchase limits on at-home test kits. Walgreens limits shoppers to four kits per purchase, while CVS have set their limit to six.

“Due to the incredible demand for at-home rapid testing, we put into effect a four-item purchase limit on at-home COVID-19 testing products in our stores and digital properties in an effort to help improve inventory while we continue to work diligently with our supplier partners to best meet customer demands,” said Walgreens in a statement on its website. 

To help meet the increased demand sparked by the spread of the omicron variant, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday plans to buy a half-billion, at-home rapid COVID tests to distribute to Americans.