WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting the omicron variant surging through the country, President Joe Biden says the government will provide 500 million free rapid home-testing kits, increase support for hospitals under strain — and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts. Speaking at the White House yesterday, Biden detailed major changes to his COVID-19 winter plan, his hand forced by the fast-spreading variant, whose properties aren’t yet fully understood by scientists. In his comments, he suggested the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated, but dangerous for the unvaccinated. He told those who have resisted getting their shots that being vaccinated “is the only responsible thing to do.”
Photo: 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. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
