by Adam Cancryn at Politico
President Joe Biden rolled out new measures designed to expand coronavirus testing and reinforce hospitals, warning Tuesday that the U.S. faces a wave of infections fueled by the Omicron variant that could strain the nation’s health system once again.
Biden, delivering his second Covid-focused speech in a month marked by rising caseloads, pled with Americans to get vaccinated and seek out boosters, calling the virus’ resurgence a matter of “deadly business” for the millions who have refused the shots.
But he rejected fears that Omicron would prompt a return of widespread lockdowns and school closures, arguing that the government is far better prepared to respond to accelerating cases and hospitalizations.
“This is not March of 2020,” Biden said. “We’re ready. We’ll get through.”
The administration plans to send thousands more troops and medical personnel to aid overburdened hospitals, set up FEMA surge facilities and prepare shipments of protective gear to hard-hit spots around the country. It will further scale up vaccination sites and reopen federal testing locations…