It’s baaaaack. The Biden administration paused the U.S. Postal Service program that mails free at-home COVID test kits in September. The concern was that due to the high demand for free kits, the stockpile would be depleted before the winter months. Funding by Congress was running out and the government couldn’t afford to purchase more kits without additional funding. Well, happy days are here again, the free tests are back.

The government and medical officials are doing their best to scare you into getting another COVID booster. The White House is planning to roll out its “winter preparedness plan” today and free test kits are a part of it. During its first round of free test kits, the USPS delivered more than 600 million at-home tests across the country. Now you can go to its website and order four more tests, free of charge. (Except you are not stupid and you know where that money to do this comes from.) But, Uncle Joe wants you to think it’s free, because he is a kind and benevolent ruler.

You may have been reading articles or seeing reports on television recently that there is a triple virus threat going around, just in time for Christmas. With the holiday season upon us, hospitals are once again filling up with people infected with a triple virus epidemic – a COVID surge, a bad flu season, and an increasing number of RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, cases. The CDC is taking the opportunity to recommend everyone mask up to mitigate the spread of the latest epidemic. Alert the older folks, and people of color, too.

“COVID has proven to be the costliest disaster in U.S. history, both in terms of loss of life and economic activity. Although the economy continues to recover, my analyses indicate that previous surges significantly stunted such progress,” said Adam Rose, a research professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy and an expert on the economics of natural and human-made hazards.

“In contrast, flu has historically proven to be only a relatively minor blip in terms of any decline in economic activity,” Rose said. “However, we need to be sensitive to the fact that both COVID and flu disproportionately affect the aged and people of color.”

The federal government is preparing for the increase of new cases, if help is needed.

The administration is putting personnel and equipment on standby should they be needed to help overwhelmed hospitals and nursing homes, as was necessary in earlier waves of the virus. So far, there have been no requests for assistance, but surge teams, ventilators and personal protective equipment are ready, the official said.

The Biden administration is also urging states and local governments to do more to encourage people to get the updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, which scientists say are more effective at protecting against serious illness and death from the currently circulating variants. The administration is reiterating best practices to nursing homes and long-term care facilities for virus prevention and treatment and is urging administrators as well as governments to encourage vulnerable populations to get the new shots.

Though the new tests come from the reserves in the national stockpile, the Biden administration is still asking Congress for billions of dollars in additional funding for COVID-19 response. New tests will be purchased to replace what is distributed over the coming weeks. A White House spokesman declined to say how many tests are currently available in the stockpile. Most transparent administration, evah.

CDC and the Biden administration are preparing for a winter surge in cases. The holiday season increases exposure with people getting together and celebrating. You have probably seen television ads advising you to go get a COVID booster now so that when Christmas comes, you’ll be fully immunized. Apparently, most people are ignoring that advice. After the misinformation and confusion that has occurred since the pandemic began, spanning two administrations, and with faith in the CDC and other medical institution waning, it’s easy to understand if people get the two-shot series of the original vaccine and let the rest of it go.

I think it’s best to just use some common sense. Protect yourself as you see fit. Wear a good mask, not a cloth mask, if you feel more comfortable out among crowds of people. Continue good hygiene, like handwashing. It’s basic advice. Ignore the scare tactics. Enjoy the holiday season.