Here’s what I think a reasonable strategy for ER and doctors offices, etc should be this season
Anyone showing symptoms should get tested for the flu first. I could be wrong, but flu tests are rather plentiful (I mean I have never heard of a shortage in my 30 years on this earth) and have a rather quick turnaround time at least compared to the covid testing delays. Regardless, send them home with instructions to quarantine / self isolate. Same procedure in admittance, eliminate the easy answer first (is it flu not flu etc)
Then (and only then) if the test is negative, move onto assuming it’s Covid and test for it. This would help reduce burden on testing labs and stress the system less, no? I might be naive on this though.
and in the situation of self care or those who don’t go to the doctors or do a televisit (my preferred Avenue) the public messaging should be; any symptoms, even if you are 99.99 percent sure it’s the flu, STAY HOME!!