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THREAD: I've spent the past few days working to get a #COVID19 test in the Houston area -- and I say working because it has indeed felt like a second job. (1/10)
For the past couple of days I have checked the @hcphtx testing sites & no matter what time I check have been greeted w/ a message that reads. "We have reached testing capacity for today." For context this morning, I checked at 10am and they were already at capacity. (2/10)
Next, I turned to the @HoustonHealth Community Drive-Thru Sites. After waiting on the phone for an hour -- I gave up. (3/10)
Upon reaching the @TexasDSHS site I was met with this message, "Website entries have been disabled due to appointment availability...call wait times are greater than 30 minutes." After waiting on the phone for an hour, I gave up there as well. (4/10)
Growing frustrated, I turned to the Greater Houston @cvspharmacy and @Walgreens locations that are currently offering testing. No appointments available across various locations for days. (5/10)
So... I turned to my family doctor who I have seen all my life. I was told that if I'd been exposed to someone with #COVID19, I could not come into the office & someone would get back to me about how to get tested -- that was more than 24-hours ago. (6/10)
My thoughts... Federal support for COVID-19 testing sites in several states including SEVEN sites in Texas are on the verge of ending at a time when this state is seeing record breaking #COVID19 positive cases & hospitalizations almost daily... (7/10) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-end-federal-support-covid-19-testing-sites-n1232063
Given my experience, my questions:
1) How many aren't getting tested due to this arduous process or worse show up at the ER when symptoms have worsened?
2) How can local govs maintain this level of testing w/ out federal funding at a time when cases in TX are skyrocketing? (8/10)
1) How many aren't getting tested due to this arduous process or worse show up at the ER when symptoms have worsened?
2) How can local govs maintain this level of testing w/ out federal funding at a time when cases in TX are skyrocketing? (8/10)
This also raises a very real possibility that the positive case count in Texas, while high, may be an undercount and not even representative of the true community spread if people are not able to access testing. (9/10)
As for me... I'm preparing to drive about a half-hour to wait in line for a test at a no appointment required drive-thru testing site. I will update you all on the journey. Stay well friends. (END)
UPDATE: Just arrived at the no-appointment drive-thru site at Cullen Middle School. It’s noon and already they are at capacity with a line wrapped around the block. I drove half-an-hour to get here only to be turned away... time and gas that some people don’t have.
