US President Joe Biden said Thursday that the government will double its purchase of covid-19 tests with an additional 500 million kits, bringing the total to 1 billion.
As the United States fights the omicron variant, which is sweeping the globe, Biden urged his fellow citizens to wear good-quality masks as "part of your patriotic duty".
However, the White House faces pressure over the unavailability of Covid tests, hampering efforts to keep schools open and get people to work when omicron infections are rising.
Biden said about 15 million tests are being administered every day, up from two million when he took office a year ago.
"Today I have directed my team to purchase an additional 500 million tests to distribute for free", He said.
The tests will be available through a government website to be launched soon, it added.
Concluding his remarks at the White House, Biden made "a special call to social networks". "Misinformation and disinformation (…) have to stop", he proclaimed. "It’s been a long road, but what’s clear is that the way we get through this is for everyone to do their part…regardless of their political party.".
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