Back to the subject at hand - in the US we are waiting for the day that some federal agency is supposed to make free home rapid tests available upon request. It's supposed to happen in early 2022. Not a peep so far, however.

It makes sense to have more than just a few tests available, Case in point: an elderly friend who got lucky and didn't catch COVID from the daughter she was staying with last month (who tested positive during the visit) is coming back for more. She texted this morning that the much-awaited great grandson has arrived and she will be in town for two weeks, with a different daughter. The grandson and g-daughter-in-law who had the baby are Trump supporters who haven't been vaccinated. If my friend wants to visit with me, and if she wants to visit with that family with the newborn, she should have a bag full of rapid tests to deploy each day to be sure she hasn't caught and/or isn't spreading COVID. That's 14 tests right there.

I haven't decided yet if we'll have a visit other than an out-of-doors conversation someplace. It is winter in Texas meaning there might be a few warmer days during her stay, so we could eat a meal out-of-doors. But in my house? I'm not inclined to set up that visit.