Biden pledges 500 million free Covid-19 tests to counter Omicron

People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by US mail at no charge, the White House said

President Joe Biden (Patrick Semansky/AP)

With the Omicron variant on the march, President Joe Biden has announced 500 million free rapid tests for Americans, increased support for hospitals under strain and a redoubling of vaccination and boosting efforts.

In a speech, Mr Biden detailed major changes to his Covid-19 winter plan, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists.