The Covid Test

Pandemically Speaking

Becky and I went to the CVS drive thru for a Covid-19 test. It was easy to register online for the test on the same day as the test. We signed up for a 10:30 test on Friday morning June 26^th. We filled out the proper paperwork and had the subsequent phone interview. The test was a simple procedure we accomplished together in the car at the regular pharmacy drive thru. After completing the test we were told to register for an online account with a username and password and we received instructions and a direct link by email. We were told to expect the test results in two to four days.

We wanted to take the test because we were going on vacation in the New York State Adirondacks with family members. We would be renting two cottages on a lake and we wanted the peace of mind of knowing we were carrying the virus to our kids and grandchildren. It would not be like our usual Adirondack vacations but we wanted to spend time with our family whom we haven't seen since Christmas.

The Sunday and Monday after the test I logged into my covid test account looking for test results. In the meantime the country had a surge in new coronavirus cases due to so many red states ignoring the scientist and medical expert recommendations and opening everything up too soon. It was obvious this would happen after seeing how people gathered together over the Memorial Day holiday weekend for parties and activities. The response to the virus became political and the president was even declaring that wearing masks had nothing to do with safety but was actually a protest against him with the intent to hurt his reelection campaign. What a moron and a dangerous one too. 

He was also constantly bragging about how good virus testing was in America and the best in the world. He said America led the world in the numbers of testing done and the accuracy of the test for the virus.  He bragged that anyone who wanted to be tested could be tested. That was certainly not true anywhere in America.  Testing has become another indicator of the failed administration response to the pandemic. As more and more people came down with the virus, as more businesses and institutions opened up then more people became aware and afraid which caused and even greater need for more testing... and getting results.

So back to my testing. I tried several times that week to get test results. Nothing. Finally a week after getting the test and the day before leaving for vacation I called the CVS where I was tested and talked to a pharmacist who was very apologetic about the lack of results. He claimed the system was overwhelmed by the numbers of test requests around the country and the test kits were sent to a centralized location for processing and notifications. I would hear from them through my testing account but it would probably take a few more days at least. He was right. It was another week. I finally got my results on Friday July 10th. Becky would get her results the following day. So much for timely testing. Fortunately we both had negative results or as they said... no virus detected.