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WASHINGTON — President Biden on Thursday mentioned he was directing his workers to buy an extra 500 million coronavirus assessments for distribution to People, doubling the federal government’s earlier buy as his administration scrambles to reply to the extremely contagious Omicron variant.
The announcement, which got here when Mr. Biden delivered remarks on the pandemic, brings to at least one billion the overall variety of assessments to be given away freed from cost.
“That may imply a billion assessments in complete to fulfill future demand,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “And we’ll proceed to work with the retailers and on-line retailers to extend availability.”
However it’s unclear when the assessments will likely be accessible. Mr. Biden introduced the primary batch of 500 million assessments simply earlier than Christmas, and the primary batch from that announcement won’t begin being delivered till later this month, in response to White Home officers. Particulars about how People can request these assessments, together with a government-run take a look at web site, are slated to be unveiled on Friday.
The president didn’t say when the brand new batch of 500 million assessments will likely be manufactured and prepared for distribution. However he mentioned the at-home assessments — together with greater than 20,000 testing websites across the nation — will assist to fulfill the surging demand as folks attempt to proceed work, college and social life regardless of the fast unfold of the virus.
“We’re on monitor to roll out a web site subsequent week the place you’ll be able to order free take a look at shipped to your house,” he mentioned, including that folks with medical insurance coverage can also soon get reimbursed for the purchase of up to eight tests a month.
Mr. Biden mentioned his administration will even be asserting a plan subsequent week to make sure that People have entry to high-quality masks. Consultants have mentioned that KN95 and N95 masks shield higher towards the Omicron variant than the extra frequent fabric or surgical masks.
He didn’t present any particulars about that effort throughout his remarks.
The announcement about assessments comes because the president additionally introduced on Thursday that the administration is sending a complete of 120 navy medical personnel to 6 states, the start of a deployment of 1,000 service members to assist hospitals cope with a surge in instances from the Omicron variant, White Home officers mentioned.
Mr. Biden appeared alongside Lloyd J. Austin III, the protection secretary, and Deanne Criswell, the director of the Federal Emergency Administration Company, on the White Home to element the groups heading to hard-hit communities throughout the nation. Mr. Biden mentioned late final month that he can be tapping the navy to assist hospitals early in January.
Officers mentioned the brand new groups of docs, nurses and different medical personnel would start arriving at hospitals in Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island. They mentioned the groups would assist triage sufferers arriving at hospitals, permitting short-staffed emergency departments to release house.
The deployments are a part of the Biden administration’s efforts to sort out the newest surge of instances brought on by the extremely contagious Omicron variant. Because it has surged, so have new instances, reaching more than 780,000 a day throughout the nation. The variety of People hospitalized with Covid-19 has hit a report excessive of about 142,000.
For Mr. Biden, the shortcoming to get management of the pandemic has helped drag down his approval rankings as he enters his second 12 months in workplace. His aides are intent on publicly speaking their efforts to cope with the virus.
Since Thanksgiving, when Omicron was first found in South Africa, the administration has despatched over 800 navy and emergency personnel to 24 states, tribes and territories, officers mentioned, not counting the personnel Mr. Biden introduced on Thursday.
As well as, greater than 14,000 Nationwide Guard members have been activated in 49 states to assist at hospitals with vaccinations, testing and different medical providers, officers mentioned. These deployments have been paid for by the American Rescue Plan, a regulation that Mr. Biden championed originally of his time period.
“To the navy medical groups on the bottom, thanks for all all the things you’re doing,” the president mentioned.
Officers mentioned there would probably be additional deployments of navy medical personnel within the days forward because the nation continues to wrestle with the pandemic.
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