Biden Admin to Distribute 500M At-home COVID-19 Tests
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Biden administration will deploy 1,000 medical personnel from the military to help hospitals struggling from COVID-19-related inundations and staff shortages, and will purchase 500 million rapid tests to mail out to the public beginning in January. In addition, the federal government will create new testing sites in areas of New York City to combat a winter surge. The White House plans to set up a website where people can request the free at-home testing kits.
The actions come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, representing 73% of all U.S. cases. So far, the variant appears more mild and more contagious than the Delta COVID-19 variant. Reports across the spectrum suggest that people who are vaccinated and boosted, if infected with Omicron, seem to experience mild symptoms or none at all.
Outlets across the spectrum, especially on the right, highlighted how White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki sarcastically dismissed the idea of mailing out at-home tests and questioned the potential cost of such a plan during a press conference on Dec. 6.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
U.S. will deploy troops to help hospitals during omicron wave, distribute free Covid tests starting in January![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/106873770-1619447575309-gettyimages-1232533439-04252021_PHH_Vaccine_13_0.jpeg?itok=8NhO54dY)
The White House will deploy 1,000 military medical personnel to support hospitals facing a surge of patients infected with Covid this winter, and will purchase 500 million at-home tests that Americans can order online for free with delivery beginning in January, according to senior administration officials.
President Joe Biden will announce the plan in a speech later Tuesday addressing how the administration is preparing for the highly contagious omicron variant of Covid-19. Biden warned last week that the unvaccinated face a winter of “severe illness and death,” calling on them to get immunized and...
From the Left
To Fight Omicron, Biden Plans Aid From Military and 500 Million Tests![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/21dc-virus-03-jumbo.jpeg?itok=HD5_iL5u)
President Biden will announce new steps on Tuesday to confront a staggering surge in coronavirus cases, including readying 1,000 military medical professionals to help at overburdened hospitals, setting up new federal testing sites, deploying hundreds of federal vaccinators and buying 500 million rapid tests to distribute free to the public.
The measures, outlined to reporters Monday night by two senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, come as coronavirus caseloads are rapidly rising around the country, particularly in the Northeast, fueled by the highly infectious new Omicron variant...
From the Right
Biden to unveil website to order free COVID-19 tests, will deploy 1K troops to help hospitals![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/virus_outbreak_biden_52720_c0-162-3875-2421_s885x516.jpeg?itok=mElHNvBU)
President Biden on Tuesday will announce the deployment of 1,000 troops to help hospitals reeling from COVID-19 and unveil a website where Americans can order free at-home virus tests in January, senior administration officials said.
He will also underscore the need for widespread vaccination and booster shots to avoid severe disease from increasingly common infections.
The administration said it is purchasing 500 million rapid tests that Americans can order for free delivery to their homes on a forthcoming website.
Also, Mr. Biden will order military doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical personnel to deploy, as...
AllSides Picks
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/c9183cd0-3ac2-11ef-bf3c-6b64b5f6bcbf.jpg?itok=4JdImmRo)
July 5th, 2024
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/im-976522.jpg?itok=wBffSRJ2)
July 5th, 2024
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/3358975296_a709c0ea3c_c.jpg?itok=l2a_L0_u)
July 3rd, 2024
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/all/themes/allsides/images/red-blue-translator-cover.png)
More News about Coronavirus from the Left, Center and Right
From the Left
From the Center
From the Right
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
![Political News Media Bias Rating: Not Rated Political News Media Bias Rating: Not Rated](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-not-yet-rated.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-right.png)
![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-right.png)