cnn has learned the president will announce the purchase of half a billion at-home rapid tests and a new plan to distribute them free to americans who request them. this as 73% of cases in the u.s. are now the highly contagious omicron variant, outpacing delta as the dominant strain. that s up sixfold in just a week. now, so far it appears most cases of omicron are relatively mild but it s so contagious it is crippling already overwhelmed hospitals. the resurgence has the nhl on ice. the entire season will be put on hold starting tomorrow till at least after christmas. let s bring in jasmine wright in washington. the there is covid exhaustion, now there is this. the vaccine is unreachable. what is the white house plan here? reporter: well, christine, a