So How is COVID Testing In Your Area?

[Christine]

I ask this because my daughter is about to have her vacation disrupted over testing.

DD is supposed to be leaving for the Bahamas tomorrow, 12/23. The requirement to go there is to have a negative COVID test performed within 5 days of the trip (can be PCR or Rapid but done thorugh a facility). She then has to upload this to a Bahamas vaccine visa thing. Anyway, she has Kaiser for insurance and booked her test through them for Monday. She's had many COVID tests through Kaiser over the past year and they are very efficient with results back sometimes in less than 24 hours.

The first testing appointment she could get was Monday afternoon around 2PM. She had the test. Tuesday morning, no results. Wednesday morning (today) no results. Her friend who also tested at Kaiser but had an appointment about 5 hours earlier, did get results this morning. As of 3PM, she still has nothing.

She left work early today and has been driving all over DC and Virginia looking for a walk-in rapid test. No shock that she cannot get one. Lines have been crazy for days. She just drove 45 minutes out of the area for one and got there and they had just stopped taking walk-ins so she's headed back home.

This is just crazy. I have this feeling (why am I being positive) that the Kaiser test is going to come through, but I guess if it doesn't there goes her two week sailing/camping vacation.

I have been watching the news so I'm not shocked but just wondering of everyone else across the U.S. is experiencing similiar issues.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We had no issues the other day when we all had to get tested. We just went to Urgent Care, had to wait maybe a 1/2 hour. I live in a small town, which can either be beneficial because there's not much call for testing because of our small population, or bad because the one Urgent Care would be swamped. In our case it's beneficial.

 

[robinb]

Our testing centers are overrun because we live in a major college town and it seems that all 48,000 students want to test before winter break. Usually I can just make an appointment for later in the day and get the results in about 24 hours.

 

[Tattylou]

Last week my friend waited 4 days for PCR result from her children’s pediatrician. The dr office said everywhere is overrun between people with symptoms, people who are close contacts, and people wanting it for travel or to visit family.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A bummer for sure, Christine.

I have had probably 8-10 PCR tests over the past 2 years. All results have always been notified in one day. This weekend, Marie was notified by one of the care givers who works taking care of Marie's uncle that she was sick and tested positive, as was her whole family. Marie had been with the caregiver at uncle's house last Thursday. We both did a Binax home test on Sunday. Marie was positive, I was negative. We went and did a PCR test on Monday at IDPH location nearby. Results just came today about 15 minutes for Marie, positive. I still do not have mine. I do expect negative, no symptoms at all. Marie's symptoms are like a super bad head cold and very tired.

Hoping your daughter gets her testing done, Christine.

ETA...the line of cars is usually 5-10 cars. Monday, over 50 in line

 

[bcla]

When my kid had symptoms I was asked to come in and couldn't return until symptoms had subsided as well as a PCR test afterwards. I made an appointment with my county testing site for an available testing time the same day and it was free, but I guess reserved for those who were suspected of having COVID-19 or having been in close contact with someone confirmed positive.

The test was fine and didn't cost anything, but getting the results was a pain. I was supposed to be notified by text message when results were available, but I never got anything until I proactively called the county health dept days later and spoke to a nurse who could generate a new letter with the results for me to provide to the school. The symptoms actually took about 10 days, but they just wanted verification that it wasn't COVID-19 at the time of the symptoms.

I don't think this would necessarily work for travel or anything requiring an immediate result, but it worked fine for school.

 

[Christine]

A bummer for sure, Christine.

I have had probably 8-10 PCR tests over the past 2 years. All results have always been notified in one day. This weekend, Marie was notified by one of the care givers who works taking care of Marie's uncle that she was sick and tested positive, as was her whole family. Marie had been with the caregiver at uncle's house last Thursday. We both did a Binax home test on Sunday. Marie was positive, I was negative. We went and did a PCR test on Monday at IDPH location nearby. Results just came today about 15 minutes for Marie, positive. I still do not have mine. I do expect negative, no symptoms at all. Marie's symptoms are like a super bad head cold and very tired.

Hoping your daughter gets her testing done, Christine.

ETA...the line of cars is usually 5-10 cars. Monday, over 50 in line

Dan, best wishes for your wife on this! Wow. I think a lot of these cases are definitely Omicron as they are so virulant. We've had an outbreak at work. One person came in asymptomatic for a very ill-advised holiday party (I don't know what my workplace was thinking). She spent some time in proximity to people Anyway, she had symptoms the day after the party. We now have 5 infected. Two had previously had COVID so this will be their second infection.

As for my daughter, I think she has found a place and is on her way, she just has to pay them $160! Not to be reimbursed because....well, Kaiser won't do that.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I waited 4.5 hours yesterday. It's insane down here right now

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan, best wishes for your wife on this! Wow. I think a lot of these cases are definitely Omicron as they are so virulant. We've had an outbreak at work. One person came in asymptomatic for a very ill-advised holiday party (I don't know what my workplace was thinking). She spent some time in proximity to people Anyway, she had symptoms the day after the party. We now have 5 infected. Two had previously had COVID so this will be their second infection.

As for my daughter, I think she has found a place and is on her way, she just has to pay them $160! Not to be reimbursed because....well, Kaiser won't do that.

Thanks, Christine. The Omicron does seem unbelievably virulent. Cases here, and everywhere, seem to have sky-rocketed in the past 2 weeks.

I saw an earlier post from you some days ago, before the fact I think, on that work party. Really stupid on management's part for sure.

Glad your daughter looks like she will be all set. That $160 will be soon forgotten as she has a good time on her trip. Wishing her fun, good health and safe times.

 

[robinb]

A bummer for sure, Christine.

I have had probably 8-10 PCR tests over the past 2 years. All results have always been notified in one day. This weekend, Marie was notified by one of the care givers who works taking care of Marie's uncle that she was sick and tested positive, as was her whole family. Marie had been with the caregiver at uncle's house last Thursday. We both did a Binax home test on Sunday. Marie was positive, I was negative. We went and did a PCR test on Monday at IDPH location nearby. Results just came today about 15 minutes for Marie, positive. I still do not have mine. I do expect negative, no symptoms at all. Marie's symptoms are like a super bad head cold and very tired.

Hoping your daughter gets her testing done, Christine.

ETA...the line of cars is usually 5-10 cars. Monday, over 50 in line

Oh no! I hope that Marie is OK and you avoid getting it. Healing thoughts going your way.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Our past PCR tests have had 18-30 hr turnarounds. We just got tested this morning before we see our parents for Christmas, so I guess we’ll see if they are taking longer now. (All Kaiser). I’m hoping not since our numbers haven’t really changed here in months.

As I mentioned on another thread, our school district sent an email today asking us to pick up free rapid tests from them to test for the return to school after the break. Which is nice since rapid tests are now impossible to come by here. We finally found them at Safeway, but it’s only 1 per customer; not terribly helpful for a family of 6 (hence the PCR which were easier to get done). I guess it’s good though - hopefully that means people are testing prior to gathering this Christmas?

 

[Jennasis]

Testing is exemplary in my town. I've gone twice and gotten results next day and two days. Drive up, stay in car, quick and well run.

 

[disneychrista]

My town has daily walk in testing (except Friday’s). Results generally take about 30 - 36 hours to receive.

 

[Kitty 34]

Dan, sorry to hear about Marie. Sending you "get well" vibes for her.

Christine, good luck to you.

 

[Christine]

Our "town" usually also has same day, walk up testing that takes no time at all. This week, the waits are hours long.

So my daughter finally got a test, she drove all over northern VA from what it seemed one end to the other. She finally found a place that would take her in as a walk-in and got the test done around 5PM (negative) so she's good to go. Still waiting on the Kaiser results. Probably be here tomorrow morning.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I'm about an hour outside of NYC in the jersey suburbs. I haven't seen lines outside of testing centers/pop-up centers since the holiday season of last year....until this week. I saw the longest line I've ever seen....today. I suspect that a lot of this is not just people who are symptomatic or have been exposed, but also people testing to travel or for indoor gatherings...etc. There are no rapid tests in the pharmacies around here...sold out, and so if you don't have one of those, you need to test elsewhere. I started out the week with 10 BinaxNOW boxes (20 tests), and have given ten of them away to people I know who were freaking out over exposure/symptoms. Cases are exploding here, and so it makes sense. Tests are tough to get now, so I'm going to hang on to the rest in case DH and I need them.

Dan, I really hope that your wife is going to be okay! I'm sure she will be. And Christine....so glad to hear that your daughter got her test! Stay safe everyone!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just got my results from my PCR taken on Monday, negative.

Marie has no fever, has good oxygen levels. Very tired, super 'stuffed up', and coughing a lot. I think she will be good in about a week.

Thanks for your good wishes.

 

[easyas123]

*just our personal experience, it may not be everyone's. Just sharing, not making a statement on rapid tests.

Walk in places around here (DE/MD(are turning people away. Appt's for PCR tests are out to about next Tuesday...it's a mess. One of our local hospital systems stopped visitation and elective surgeries.

We have it - I tested negative with a rapid test , my husband tested positive with a rapid test. I wanted to make sure, so later that same day I was able to get a PCR test. I went into the office, stayed to myself & wore a mask "just in case", glad I did. PCR test I took came up positive. Then about 12 hours later it hit me. The fatigue is overwhelming.

My son (double vaxxed) took a rapid test two days ago, negative. Tested positive with a PCR test later that day as well (he was due to start a new job and he wanted to make sure). My husband has had a bit of a time with it - I am double vaxxed & boosted, he is double vaxxed- and has had the IV infusion (horror stories from nurses in infusion center) and is now on steroids and inhaler due to lung issues. Or Dr. had to shut down her in-person practice and go to online only.

My SIL, a nurse, (double vaxxed) got it a few days ago, and my BIL, grocery store manager, (double vaxxed) just tested positive yesterday.

I'll tell you - we all thought we had made it thru and wouldn't be likely to get it by this time. Then Boom! So glad to be feeling better now.

Good luck everyone.

 

[martikus]

In South Carolina it’s the strangest thing. Many believe pandemic is over, but our testing is really robust. Many free places with no
More than 48 turnaround (less than 24 hours when strains aren’t spiking) and lots of pat places for rapid.

I don’t know why our testing is great but everything else is bonkers but feel very fortunate. It’s meant I could get my son tested anytime he’s had the sniffles.

 

[DisneyOma]

In South Carolina it’s the strangest thing. Many believe pandemic is over, but our testing is really robust. Many free places with no
More than 48 turnaround (less than 24 hours when strains aren’t spiking) and lots of pat places for rapid.

I don’t know why our testing is great but everything else is bonkers but feel very fortunate. It’s meant I could get my son tested anytime he’s had the sniffles.

What do you mean by "our testing is really robust"? Are you testing a huge percentage of the population regularly, or are there lots of openings for a test, or what?

Here in my area of New England, we are seeing a spike in cases, mostly mild ones since so many people are vaccinated, and we have free rapid testing in our schools. The home testing kits are hard to find, but I work in a school, so I've just used that as a resource. I've had 2 negative PCR tests, and 2 negative rapid tests in the past 2 years.