Exactly. Echoing your sentiments on media stupidity and hype instead of focusing efforts and money where it is needed. They've had a year now to prepare for what any reasonable person knows will be an "enhanced" flu season. Yet, they still claim masks needed to prevent over-capacity at hospitals. Well, staff up and equip idiots.
AArgh.
They also keep talking about hospital capacity as if they didn't completely distort the availability of routine treatments all spring and summer. Then they say hospitals are approaching capacity as of all the delayed surgeries and treatments contribute to COVID crowding. The local health district is outright conflating the numbers in offocial policy.