Are they getting the same tests? We tested everyone on campus (and students twice, and then athletes randomly), but it’s antigen-based rapid testing, not PCR-based testing. If someone gets a positive on the antigen test, it’s enough to trigger immediate isolation and contact tracing for quarantines, but they then have to go get an appointment for a PCR test from the hospital for confirmation, and those results still take days.
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The news piece I saw on it didn’t go into detail from what I recall. Either way, for a long time you essentially could not get tests here, of any flavor.
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I was stalking the CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid sites for two days before finding a test spot that was less than 8hrs away. CVS seems to open up spots at 9am local time for two days in the future in case that helps anyone.
We’ll, that’s not entirely true, I found one close by the first day but when I showed up they had run out of teats (Edit: not sure how to do a strike through but I meant tests! Not teats 
). The pharmacist suggested I try one of their competitors since they’ve been so swamped.
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Another maskless mail carrier. Like, not even a chin diaper. Gosh, why is our local branch full of covid?
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Don’t you guys have drive up public testing sites? I used one of ours a few days ago to get DD tested – I did manage to get an appointment, but they had lanes open for no appointment drive ups, too. It was very efficient. Got her results back (negative) in about 28 hours.
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I don’t know. Our GP seemed to indicate this was the best luck approach.
It seems like every county/state does it differently. We have county sites that require appointments and they are really hard to get, although my sister and parents have each gotten them at some point in the past. The county also does pop-up site that don’t require appointments but they are in places that have less healthcare options like lower income neighborhoods, which is absolutely the right approach but they are not easy for me to get to.
That’s the kicker, that every state is left to do their own thing. We have drive up and walkup sites with no appointment needed, with a request (not requirement) that you are synptomatic, and we also have free tests by mail. Aside from medical setting tests.
I saw this in my department today on my way out -
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Wait, WHAT, there is an in-person vigil to honor people who died of covid tonight, downtown at a popular (at least outdoor) gathering/protest/vigil spot?!?
It’s in the teens outside though, windchill probably subzero, so hopefully crowds don’t show up?
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Um, wouldn’t a more appropriate way to honor covid victims (and those who are still fighting to keep more people alive) be to STAY THE F HOME?!?!?!!
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RIGHT?!?!?
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My sister has covid-19. She assumed she got it from the grocery store since most people don’t wear masks. She went out to a dinner party last week, everyone she was with tested negative. Dr. said to assume her husband and 3 boys have it too but they aren’t being tested. She will have her two boys tested before they go back to school.
She says right now she only has a headache and it was just paranoia that made her go get tested. I really hope it stays that way.
Thankfully my parents did not go up to visit her for Christmas. They decided to stay home since cases had gotten so high.
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I wish a smooth recovery for your sister!!
The “assuming they have it thing” is confusing to me. Maybe I’m not being realistic, but I would think that a positive person would want to isolate from others in the household to the extent possible (so quarantine separately in the house) if there is a chance they don’t have it. If the others are confirmed positive, then they would all hang out and convalesce together, which is easier on the whole family, but I wouldn’t want to infect them on purpose? My friend’s brother isolated from his wife and kids, staying in the basement. Wife/kids were tested and were negative. My nurse friend’s teenager tested positive. My nurse friend was tested regularly while her teenager had it (because of the shortage of healthcare workers, they basically had her continue to work unless/until she either had a positive result or symptoms.) She never came up positive. Another friends entire household has it, all cases confirmed. I’m actually surprised when it doesn’t spread throughout a household, but in three out of four families I know that recently had it, it didn’t spread beyond one infected person.
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Fun fact for any of you that have seen/listened to Critical Role: Sam Riegels mom is part of the Astrazeneca trial! I didn’t realize the Astrazeneca vaccine would be so much cheaper and that was it’s appeal for less wealthy countries.
The Riegels are good humans!!
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Everyone I know has separated from their children as well, but for whatever reason they are not. Everyone I know was symptomatic though. (Although I think a headache is technically not ‘asymptomatic’…)
I’m worried she will make herself sicker. When I called they were outside playing basketball. I’d assume it would be a good idea to take it easy, with a respiratory conditionbut I don’t have any evidence of that.
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I’m sorry to hear about your sister. My sister had it as well and her husband and two toddlers did not get it, and they did not isolate. It just wasn’t possible for them so they assumed they would all just get it, but nope. I don’t get how some people can be exposed and just not get it, but I hope it happens with your sisters family too.
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I was just listening to a podcast with Andy Slavitt and Dr. Fauci, who said this (the highly variable response) is one of the big outstanding mysteries of covid. If they don’t know, nobody does…
Re: basketball, if it’s a chill session of shooting it might be a way of entertaining the kids while reducing contaminated air.
I hope it passes quickly and easily for your sister’s family.
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I didn’t know their were Critters on here!!!
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Bidet!
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Yup! I’m a new one! Still working through the episodes lol.
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