Qatar – US to distribute free Covid tests as Omicron spreads

  • Date: 22-Dec-2021
  • Source: MENAFN
  • Sector:Healthcare
  • Country:Qatar
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Qatar – US to distribute free Covid tests as Omicron spreads

The United States said Tuesday it will distribute hundreds of millions of free Covid tests in the face of surging Omicron cases, which have forced governments worldwide to reimpose restrictions ahead of the holidays. Washington also said Tuesday it will donate more than $500 million in international Covid aid to help countries battle the pandemic, while Israel announced tough new restriction on US travel. Amid fears that the highly-mutated variant might not be as effective against vaccines, the EU medicines watchdog said it was too soon to say if drug companies needed to develop an Omicron-specific jab. Omicron, now present in dozens of countries, appears to be more infectious, despite early indications that it does not cause a more severe form of Covid-19 than the Delta strain. Its lightning dash around the globe has forced governments to reimpose restrictions ahead of the holidays, dampening hopes the worst of the pandemic is over. US President Joe Biden was due to address the nation later Tuesday after a White House official said the government will distribute 500 million free Covid tests and mobilize military medical personnel if needed. 'We have the tools to get through this wave,' the official said, noting there