Biden orders 500 million test kits to tackle Omicron

Omicron, that was first identified in southern Africa last month but has now spread around the globe, has become the dominant strain in the US, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all new cases.
According to officials, unvaccinated are at high risk of getting sick. This variant is highly transmissible and the unvaccinated are eight times more likely to be hospitalised and 14 times more likely to die from Covid.
Amid new measures to tackle the surging Omicron variant US President Joe Biden's administration is to make 500 million rapid tests for Covid available.
The rapid tests will be delivered free to all Americans who request them from January.
In addition, there would be new federal testing sites would be launched nationwide by Christmas, with the first in New York City - which has seen a massive surge in Omicron.