The U.S. lags behind other countries when it comes to making rapid at-home COVID-19 tests easily available and inexpensive. And we’re going to need to get better at it as omicron variant concerns increase and we see more indoor gatherings. Then we’ll look at the staffing shortages many schools have faced and what that’s meant for those who’ve stayed. And it’s Friday, so we’ll wrap up with a round of everyone’s favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty!

Here’s everything we talked about on the show today:

• “Where are the rapid at-home antigen covid-19 tests in the US?” from Quartz
• “Covid Rapid At-Home Tests: How Accurate Are They and Other Questions Answered” from The New York Times
• “New York Reports Five Omicron Cases” from The New York Times
• “Staff shortages mean schools lack teachers, aides, custodians, bus drivers” from The Washington Post
• “Omicron may throw wrench in companies’ plans to return to office” from Reuters
• “What’s at stake in the historic MLB lockout” from “Marketplace Morning Report”
• “Tesla unveils electric Cyberquad ATV for kids” from Fast Company
• “Your Spotify Wrapped Is Embarrassing, and I Want to See It” from The Cut

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