WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the purchase of a half-billion, at-home rapid COVID-19 tests and the mobilization of 1,000 military medical personnel to overburdened hospitals, as officials confront for a new surge in infections driven by the omicron variant.
The president unveiled the stepped-up measures in a speech from the White House as the nation – already fatigued by a pandemic that's lasted nearly two years – faces rising COVID-19 infections.
Biden said Americans will be able to request the free-at-home COVID-19 tests be mailed to their homes by accessing an online website. It comes as shortages have led to long lines and overwhelmed hospitals in hot spots while Americans crisscross the country for the holiday season.
"I know you're tired. I know you're frustrated. We all want this to be over," Biden said in his remarks from the White House State Dining Room "But we're still in it. And this is a critical moment. But we also have more tools than we've ever had before."
Americans will not be able to request the at-home tests online until January, meaning they can't access the kits before millions are expected to travel for Christmas. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration is still working through details of the program, including how many kits will be available for households and whether some groups would be prioritized.
The 500 million tests – among eight versions approved by the Food and Drug Administration – are in addition to 50 million tests the federal government began distributing this month to community health centers. Biden said his administration has also worked to make it easier to search online to find nearby COVID-19 tests.
President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 response and vaccinations, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington.
President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 response and vaccinations, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington.
'No this is not March 2020,' Biden says
The U.S. has lagged behind other nations in testing capacity. Pressed by reporters about the shortages, Biden said, "I don't think anybody anticipated that this was going to be as rapidly spreading as it did."
SOURCE : YAHOO
