How to get a COVID test ahead of holidays

Also: The stories of 2021, in photos; our readers' favorite books from this year [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  December 14, 2021 🌞 Increasing clouds, with a high near 44. Good Morning Boston, It's finally here: Our [complete list of all your favorite books of 2021](. We got over 90 recommendations from newsletter readers and WBUR super fans, so I did my best to organize your suggestions in a useful way. There's really something on here for everyone, so I hope you can reference this list for months and years to come. Now, on to the news: - No-excuse mail-in voting and expanded early voting hours and locations are set to expire today. The Legislature is looking for permanent solutions to these pandemic reforms, but it's not officially in session, which means there will be a gap in these options being available. Secretary of State Bill Galvin [spoke with Radio Boston]( about his concerns and what he thinks should happen next. - We have the results for Tuesday's special election primary to fill the seat of former Sen. Joe Boncore of Winthrop. [Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards]( emerged victorious over Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio. Since she faces no opponent heading into the official January election, Edwards has the state Senate seat on lock. - Another prisoner at the Suffolk County jail died earlier this month. The Suffolk County District Attorney is [investigating]( the death; it's the fifth at the jail this year. And in local COVID news: - A grand jury recently dismissed the indictments against two former Holyoke Soldiers' Home officials in connection with their roles in the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run veteran nursing home in 2020. Attorney General Maura Healey announced yesterday that she's [appealing that decision.]( - New health data from the state show that 2% of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Massachusetts have tested positive. That's higher than we originally thought, but the data does show that only a small fraction of those people wind up hospitalized. It's the latter fact that signals vaccines are working. - The seven-day average positive test rate across Massachusetts is the highest it's been since January: 5.18%. - A reminder: This spike in cases is being caused by delta, not omicron. (The new variant is not the dominant one in Massachusetts or the U.S. at this point.) - The state's oldest medical association is echoing what public health experts and the CDC have been saying for months: [wear your mask indoors]( regardless of your vaccination status. - Gov. Charlie Baker is digging in his heels, repeating on Monday that he "had no plans" to reinstitute a statewide mask mandate. That means it's up to communities to choose whether they implement indoor mask mandates. Some, like Salem, are still thinking about re-upping it. P.S.– 2021 has been a lot. Sure, there were some bright moments, but really this year felt like a [constant obstacle course that I very much stumbled through](. Can you relate? Share! Misery loves company. What unexpected, ridiculous pandemic-related scenarios did you find yourself in this year? [Tell us here, and we can laugh and cry together.]( Meagan McGinnes Senior Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [The photos that helped us tell the stories of 2021]( Marked by the ongoing pandemic and a pivotal mayoral election, 2021 brought hope alongside angst and uncertainty. We take a look back at these critical moments, and the photographs that helped us tell the stories. [Read more.]( [The photos that helped us tell the stories of 2021]( Marked by the ongoing pandemic and a pivotal mayoral election, 2021 brought hope alongside angst and uncertainty. We take a look back at these critical moments, and the photographs that helped us tell the stories. [Read more.]( [How to get a COVID test in Massachusetts]( As COVID-19 cases rise amid the holiday season, health experts and public official are recommending that people get tested before traveling or gathering with their loved ones. [Read more.]( [How to get a COVID test in Massachusetts]( As COVID-19 cases rise amid the holiday season, health experts and public official are recommending that people get tested before traveling or gathering with their loved ones. [Read more.]( [800,000 Americans have died of COVID. Now the U.S. braces for an omicron-fueled spike]( The U.S. also surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases, the most in the world. Two experts who raised early warnings discuss how the losses continue to deepen, despite the arrival of vaccines a year ago. [Read more.]( [800,000 Americans have died of COVID. Now the U.S. braces for an omicron-fueled spike]( The U.S. also surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases, the most in the world. Two experts who raised early warnings discuss how the losses continue to deepen, despite the arrival of vaccines a year ago. [Read more.]( [Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, punting the next fight to 2023]( Congress approved a measure to increase the debt limit by $2.5 trillion, shifting the deadline for default until after the 2022 midterm elections. [Read more.]( [Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, punting the next fight to 2023]( Congress approved a measure to increase the debt limit by $2.5 trillion, shifting the deadline for default until after the 2022 midterm elections. [Read more.]( [Vehicle emission declines decreased deaths, Harvard study finds]( Harvard University researchers who study the environment and public health examined the impact of declines in emissions from vehicles over a decade. They found deaths dropped from 27,700 in 2008 to 19,800 in 2017 and that the economic benefits of the reduction in emissions totaled $270 billion. [Read more.]( [Vehicle emission declines decreased deaths, Harvard study finds]( Harvard University researchers who study the environment and public health examined the impact of declines in emissions from vehicles over a decade. They found deaths dropped from 27,700 in 2008 to 19,800 in 2017 and that the economic benefits of the reduction in emissions totaled $270 billion. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - These are the [best films of 2021]( according to WBUR critics Sean Burns and Erin Trahan. - Trying to embrace simpler and smaller holiday celebrations this year? These [three recipes]( Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst will do the trick. - The excitement over Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s campaign call for rent control was palpable. But strictly straitjacketing rents won't solve Boston's housing crisis, writes Rich Barlow [in this commentary](. What We're Reading 📚 - The Pro-Trump Conspiracy Internet Is Moving From Facebook To Your Doorstep ([Buzzfeed News]( - The Big Question: Could Peloton Sue Over Its ‘And Just Like That’ Appearance? ([The New York Times]( - How Shein beat Amazon at its own game — and reinvented fast fashion ([Rest of World]( Tell Me Something Good [Bookmark this: WBUR fans share 90+ favorite reads of 2021]( In preparation for holiday travel and gift-giving, we asked you – WBUR Today subscribers – to share what you read this year and why you liked it. Our inbox and threads were immediately flooded. [Read more.]( [Bookmark this: WBUR fans share 90+ favorite reads of 2021]( In preparation for holiday travel and gift-giving, we asked you – WBUR Today subscribers – to share what you read this year and why you liked it. Our inbox and threads were immediately flooded. [Read more.]( Before you go: This is my [safe space](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.](   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.