The epidemic has been trying for everyone. Yet, the hope has been that when care is needed, it will be readily available and accessible.
My wife, Lisa, and I have been fortunate that we have not had any direct issues, yet we’ve both had to undergo Covid testing for various purposes.
The other day, Lisa had a coworker who tested positive. As such she went to get tested as well, in spite of little to no exposure to said coworker. When she tried to take a taxi to get tested at a local pharmacy, the pharmacy turned her away, as the taxi had dropped her off and she was not in a vehicle. She then tried to walk three blocks to her primary clinic, but was turned away as they only administer the test to symptomatic patients.
After two strikes in she called a cab to the nearest mass-testing center, at a local convention center. The cars at the site were lined up out to the street, so Lisa decide to walk to the walk-in line. After waiting for 20 minutes, the center announced that a computer issue occurred and testing would be suspended for the next several hours.
Fortunately, she managed to get a ride with another co-worker later that day, and got negative results.
A few weeks prior, I had a much similar experience. After having a flu-shot, I developed flu-like symptoms the day prior to a medical procedure (a Spinraza injection). As such, I called the clinic, and they told me I would need to reschedule and get a Covid test prior to rescheduling. The clinic even put in the orders for a Covid test.
I went to schedule a test. Paratransit didn’t want to risk transporting a symptomatic rider, nor allow for in-vehicle testing. I also considered a cab, but the accessible cabs are rarely available, so I tried other methods.
My case manager suggested MTM (the State medical transport line), but as I didn’t have it in my plan, I’d have to get it approved (a multi-day process) and then schedule the ride two days in advance. Additionally, my care staff have shared many stories of MTM cancelling rides day of the appointment. Even mid-ride sometimes.
In the end, I got lucky, called the cab and they agreed to do in-vehicle testing. I called ahead to the clinic, made the appropriate arrangements, and got ready to go.
We arrived at the clinic. Instead of doing the in-vehicle testing, as discussed, they had the cab go to the main entrance, and asked me to go in through the clinic (in spite of my flu-like symptoms). Upon getting out of the vehicle, and walking to the main entrance, they instead had me walk to a side entrance, right past the in-vehicle testing.
I eventually got the testing completed, and got negative results. Yet the challenges my wife and I have had as non-drivers, to get a simple swab test for Covid, have been sharply disappointing.
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