January 13, 2022 – President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the US government will provide free, upgraded face masks, available for ordering online next week.
He also ordered 500 million faster tests for COVID-19 to meet future demand, and deployed more military teams to help congested hospitals in the worst-hit states.
These actions are part of the “whole government” response to the increase in COVID-19 cases and Omicron hospitalizations.
Improved masks
Biden’s plan aims to make it easier for Americans to get modernized masks.
“I have taken all the steps I can as president to require people to wear masks in federal buildings and on planes and trains,” he said. However, “I know that for some Americans, the mask is not always available or convenient to obtain.”
With that in mind, next week the White House will announce how people can order high-quality masks, including the N95, online, for free, on a new website.
Biden estimates that about a third of Americans say they never wear a mask, a statistic he hopes to change.
The president also acknowledged the pandemic fatigue of many.
“We all want to finally end up wearing masks, I understand,” he said. “But they are a really important tool to stop the spread, especially [of] the highly portable version of the Omicron. “
One billion tests
In a 10-minute address, Biden also announced plans to order another 500 million rapid tests for COVID-19 at home to meet demand. The order comes in addition to the 500 million tests the government has already ordered.
In making the calculations, the president noted that current and future deliveries mean that billions of tests will be purchased to deliver to your homes for free.
Biden also pointed out that rapid tests at home were not available when he took office. In contrast, “we will have over 375 million rapid tests at home in January alone. This is a huge leap,” he said.
Meanwhile, his administration will work with online retailers to provide more tests. In addition, for every American who wants a test now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is adding more free personal testing sites across the country.
More military reserve
“I’m announcing our next deployment of six additional federal medical teams,” Biden said. These reinforcements include more than 120 military personnel deployed to severely affected states, including Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Rhode Island.
These troops will join other teams already in action.
Since Thanksgiving, more than 800 military and other federal emergency personnel have been stationed in 24 states, tribes and territories, Biden said. The numbers include more than 350 military doctors, nurses and medics who help overcrowded hospital staff. In addition, more than 14,000 members of the National Guard are already deployed to help health workers in 49 states.
Vaccination remains a top priority
Vaccination and reinforcement of more Americans remains a priority, especially during the Omicron jump.
“Right now, both vaccinated and unvaccinated people are doing well. But what happens next can’t be different,” Biden said. “If vaccinated people test positive, they are either mostly asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.
In contrast, when an unvaccinated person’s test is positive, he is more than 17 times more likely to be hospitalized, he said.
“As long as we have tens of millions of people who will not be vaccinated, we will have full hospitals and unnecessary deaths. They are overcrowding hospitals, leaving little room for anyone else who could have a heart attack, car accident or injury at all, “Biden said.
One bright spot so far with the Omicron jump is, despite the jump in cases and the number of hospitalizations, he said, “deaths have dropped dramatically since last winter.”
Unite against a common enemy
Biden said that America “will go through this when everyone has done their part, no matter where you live, no matter your political party.”
He also acknowledged the political divisions affecting the response and numbers of COVID-19, saying: “We have a battle together. We have to work together. Not against each other.