Our daycare just massively amped up their quarantine requirements because covid is running rampant through there. It kind of seems futile with this new variant.
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Well thatâs not nearly as exciting. I saw it was a special tiny machine. When it was first mentioned I was really confused how they taught all of their employees to do PCR, for sure.
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I donât know how PCR worksâŚbut I know it is confusing and hard to get right.
My husband comes home angry at the PCR machine about 80% of the time.
Itâs cool that apparently these tests are super accurate though. Even if people canât get them at home, maybe large events/ employers could have them available on site? Because they are way quicker than a PCR.
(I took a test Jan 3. I think the lab lost itâŚ)
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Posted an article up thread about the machine they get. Not quite a PCR machine but definitely some fancy tech!
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For US readers: Covidtests.gov site went live today, a day early. I think? The page Iâd had open still said ordering starts tomorrow, but it worked in a different browser. Some caching issue, I suppose. Anyway, Iâve ordered my tests.
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I was able to order. Limit 4 per address, ship out late January they say. It was super fast to do.
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What browser worked for you? I havenât been able to order.
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Chrome worked for me; Firefox didnât.
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Worked for me on mobile (Android, Brave browser). Thanks for the heads up! Super fast to fill out - Iâm glad theyâre not adding more paperwork overhead.
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Safari on iPhone for me.
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Weird, thatâs what Iâm using! Iâll try on my computer.
Strange. Itâs worked for my whole family too/parents siblings, theyâre all on iPhone
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Thanks! Got mine. (Chrome, at first the order link wasnât there but I refreshed a few times and then it was)
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It was the opposite for me. 
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Still better than the healthcare website rollout 
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Done, thanks!
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If helpful for anyone else, just tried it on âprivate browsingâ on safari on iPhone and that did work 
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Well, I ordered mine, but honestly, I do not understand this plan at all.
I appreciate that tests are available, especially to those who are low income.
But, four per address? What about houses with more than 4 people in them? Thatâs not rare at all. Without even thinking about multi-generational households (which means this will probably disproportionately affect minorities) , a lot of couples just have 3+ kids.
And also, just 4? Ever? With covid being so crazy, if we really want people using at home tests, theyâre gonna need hella more than that.
It almost seems like this should have been means tested to allow you to sign up, but allow you to reorder as needed. Everyone else should go the insurance reimbursement route, or maybe after the original 4?
I mean, I know itâs all a nightmare, but this just seems so token; itâs not going to do much.
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Iâm glad for it, even though it is not a magic bullet. This at least gets tests in hands of people. No itâs not enough but itâs better than nothing. I just know so many of my co-workers who cannot afford to pay $15 a pop for a rapid test and also cannot afford to wait for PCR results on unpaid time. (At my workplace, you are not required to quarantine/stay home if you have an exposure but you yourself are vaccinated and youâre symptom free. AKA if you choose to quarantine and get a test and wait to make sure you arenât an asymptomatic spreader, thatâs on you and will not be paid for by work). This at least will give folx some. Which is better than none.
Agreed that it is not a magic solution.
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