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I want to make it perfectly clear that it is nearly impossible to get a rapid result COVID19 test in Dallas. My sister and I (both asymptomatic, insured, and with unlimited access to the internet) have been trying unsuccessfully to do so for three days.
One dozen attempts on the http://CVS.com website allowed me to click on an appointment time, enter all my personal information, and then when I click confirm, it tells me the time is no longer available.
Yesterday, I wasted over an hour in line for an appointment that "was never created in our system." https://twitter.com/lenubienne/status/1276612714991845376?s=20
I have called and driven to no less than 6 different testing sites since Thursday, and there is always a line, too few staff, they have run out of tests, or have been simply been unable to test me because "there is no appointment in the system."
And I am doing this with full understanding of the privileges I have of speaking fluent English, having insurance, at-will access to private transportation, and the ability to take off work to even try and get tested.
Yesterday, I got an antibody test from Helix Health (after 2 tries because no one showed up for the 8am appt I made) that was supposed to give me results in 30 minutes. It has now been 24 hours, and the results have not arrived, and the office is closed until Monday.
I did not want to risk going to an urgent care or emergency medical facility for a test, but I may have to, because there is no other available option unless I get in line at the American Airlines Center at 6am and hope they don't run out before my number gets called.
This list published by @DallasCounty is a joke. https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/testing-locations.php
There is ONE SINGLE mobile testing program for a metropolis of two million people.
...and they only have the capacity for 60 tests per day. Please explain how that makes sense when less than 20% of this city is covered by public transportation?
The number of confirmed cases has been spiking for the last two weeks. Record new highs, every day. We "reopened" on May 1 with no plan, no leadership, and no oversight. Look at this mess: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/06/26/demand-for-coronavirus-tests-soars-at-dallas-countys-main-screening-sites/?outputType=amp
Every single site that asks you to book an appointment makes you enter ALL your demographic and insurance info first, only to tell you that they have no availability. Look at this example from @kroger.
What are they doing with my info? Who has access to all my demographic and insurance info, now? Why doesn't the appointment selection come BEFORE I tell you my health and medical info?
Again, I have insurance. I have access to transportation and time. I speak English. What about the countless other people who do NOT have these privileges? How are they getting access to testing?
. @GovAbbott has completely botched this process from start to finish. Bars, nail salons, restaurants, and theme parks are still open, masks are not required while tests are scarce, people are dying, and hospitals are in crisis mode. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/27/we-opened-too-quickly-texas-becomes-model-inadequate-coronavirus-pandemic-response
I am sad, scared, angry, and I still need a test.
