They’re back. And they’re back because of what’s happening again this holiday season.
Fears again this year about a holiday surge. But this year the fear among health officials is of a combined surge of rising cases of COVID, the flu and other viruses like RSV.
So what’s back are free COVID test kits for everyone.
The Biden administration announcing today that it is restarting a program that provided free COVID tests to American households through the Postal Service. The move is part of a new push by the government to head off rises in virus cases and hospitalizations as winter approaches.
The program ended in September after more than 600 million tests had been sent out. Each household will now be able to once again order four tests with shipments starting again next week. You order them online at covidtests.gov.
The other news this week is that here in San Diego, where cases of the flu are up, the county health agency is making free tests for influenza available at seven locations that have been providing COVID testing and certain treatment options. Appointments for flu testing also are online at the county’s website.
And along with the news of more free testing available comes the continuing reports of increases in hospitalizations from all these viruses.
And that’s most of all, why the advice from public health officials remains to be wise when you get together for the holidays this month, so the holiday rush doesn’t become a surge.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: AFP via Getty Images