WASHINGTON President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that half a billion free at-home COVID-19 tests will be distributed to Americans who want them starting next month, one of several new steps to combat the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus .

A website under development will let Americans request rapid tests for their use, at no cost to them, that will be delivered through the U.S. Postal Service, according to a senior administration official who spoke to reporters late Monday.

Details, including how many tests would be available per household, are still being finalized, the official said, who added that a January time frame was chosen because that is when the tests will be available from manufacturers.

Testing in this country is a lot better than it was. But theres more to do, and were taking action now, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The 500 million government-provided tests are in addition to the 50 million Biden already announced would be distributed to clinics earlier this month. Further, insurance companies would be required to cover the costs of at-home tests for their customers, also starting in January.

The test distribution program represents a reversal from the administrations apparent policy just two weeks ago, when White House press secretary Jen Psaki sarcastically responded to a question about rapid tests by asking if the government should just send one to every American.

Other steps Biden plans to announce include the mobilization of 1,000 military doctors, nurses and medics to go into badly affected areas as needed in January and February; the activation of Federal Emergency Management Agency response teams to help hospitals add bed capacity; the creation of new testing sites in cities across the country; new vaccination sites; and further use of the Defense Production Act to increase the availability of tests, including at-home tests.