there's plenty offing. >> reporter: but covid is surging and the testing supply hasn't kept up. >> we need to flood the system with tests and have tests available for anyone who wants them. >> reporter: senior administration officials tell cnn that president biden is set to announce new testing measures today. they will purchase half a billion at-home rapid tests to be delivered to americans for free starting in serbia and they will set up more federal testing sites including one in new york city that will open before christmas. >> this far into the pandemic the u.s. is, you know, loyalty years behind our are peer nation in terms of making the tests really available. >> reporter: last week the cdc director dr. walensky suggested that increased testing will help keep schools open. >> these studies demonstrate that testing works to keep unvaccinated children in schools