As people prepare to get together with friends and family for the holidays, the White House is warning of a possible COVID-19 winter surge, with infection numbers worsening in the state and nationwide. In New Jersey, 2,500 new confirmed cases were reported on Thursday, 53% above the infection numbers of one month ago and putting a greater strain on health care systems that are in the middle of one of the worst flu seasons in a decade and a wave of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
The Biden administration says it will restart the program that offered free at-home COVID-19 tests to Americans through the Postal Service. Households can order four tests at the same website, www.covid.gov/tests, with shipments set to begin next week. It’s part of a larger so-called winter preparedness plan the White House is rolling out, along with urging residents to get up to date on vaccine protection with the newest bivalent booster shot.
