Alarmed by a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and the increasing prevalence of the omicron variant, New York City officials will distribute one million masks and 500,000 home tests, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. The mass distributions are part of a broader plan to counter the virus’ spread that also includes making testing more easily available through more sites and extended hours. While only a few cases of the omicron variant have been confirmed so far in the city, federal health officials are estimating that it already accounts for around 13 percent of virus cases in the region that includes New York and New Jersey. De Blasio said it’s clear omicron is “in full force” and spreading. “This variant moves fast. We need to move faster,” the mayor said at a news briefing in Brooklyn. New York state reported nearly 18,300 new cases of the virus Wednesday, the third …