What happened to community COVID testing in PWC

[Anonymous]

Last year, I was able to get my 6 year old a free, no appointment needed drive-through COVID PCR test at a local park’s parking lot within two days. It was advertised on both the Virginia Health Dept website and on Nextdoor. Then, community testing seemed to dwindle when the vaccines came out. But, I was able to get him a free test at CVS a few months later with a same day appointment. Now it looks like the Health Dept is directing people to a service that does not accept insurance, so you either have to pay $125 or be uninsured to receive a free test. And, CVS doesn’t have appointments for at least 4 days out. If I go to my kids’ primary physician, I’ll have to pay $150 out of pocket for the office visit, even if the test itself is covered by insurance and they are overwhelmed with patients so it’s hard to get an appointment there too.
I just wonder, if Virginia makes it so difficult to get an answer as to whether a sniffle or cough is COVID, how do they expect parents to test their kids so that the illness doesn’t spread in schools. I’m lucky. I can afford to pay for a doctor’s visit to find out and I had the time and energy to search for testing sites and take my kids where they need to be to get tested. But, I’m positive that a lot of parents in my community can’t. So, I’m pretty sure that there are a lot of sick kids going to school, not knowing whether they have COVID or not.

[Anonymous]

Because we've given up.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm quickly realizing that this is a complete mess. Why is there limited testing availability and affordability while the schools are fully open. Parents should be able to easily test their kids. I can't get my 6 year old a drive-thru test (at a local pharmacy) for at least 4 days. At-home tests are completely sold out everywhere. My 2 year old can't get a drive-thru test at all because she's too young. I'm not keen on going into an urgent care center to spread more germs. My kids' doctor's office is overwhelmed and has no sick appointment openings, plus I'm also not keen on spending hundreds of dollars just to get the test. I finally found an option for my two year old - an at-home labcorp test, but they have to ship the test to me and I have to ship it back, so that in itself is a week long process. I've spend more than a full day just trying to figure out how to get my kids tested and it's exhausting. And, neither are really visibly sick, but I don't want to send my kids to school without knowing for sure. But, I feel like I'm in the minority. I feel like many parents, whether by necessity or ignorance are sending their sick children to school. And, I sympathize, this school year just feels like everyone is just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best while jumping out of a plane without a parachute. I'm really upset about the lack of planning/coordination from all levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm quickly realizing that this is a complete mess. Why is there limited testing availability and affordability while the schools are fully open. Parents should be able to easily test their kids. I can't get my 6 year old a drive-thru test (at a local pharmacy) for at least 4 days. At-home tests are completely sold out everywhere. My 2 year old can't get a drive-thru test at all because she's too young. I'm not keen on going into an urgent care center to spread more germs. My kids' doctor's office is overwhelmed and has no sick appointment openings, plus I'm also not keen on spending hundreds of dollars just to get the test. I finally found an option for my two year old - an at-home labcorp test, but they have to ship the test to me and I have to ship it back, so that in itself is a week long process. I've spend more than a full day just trying to figure out how to get my kids tested and it's exhausting. And, neither are really visibly sick, but I don't want to send my kids to school without knowing for sure. But, I feel like I'm in the minority. I feel like many parents, whether by necessity or ignorance are sending their sick children to school. And, I sympathize, this school year just feels like everyone is just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best while jumping out of a plane without a parachute. I'm really upset about the lack of planning/coordination from all levels.

Hi, I'm also in PWC (western end near Bristow.) I posted about a week ago that i needed a Covid test for an event and the lack of availability at local pharmacies--I was even willing to go as far as Richmond but there was nothing!
I ended up looking at the CVS website really early in the morning (I think at about 6 am) and there was plenty of same day availability-even thought the previous day there had been none. So I think they must "open up" the testing appointments for same day very early in the morning.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are completely right to feel frustrated. The testing situation in this country is a disgrace. European countries are handling it much better. In the UK, every adult is supposed to do a free PCR once a week or two free rapids twice a week, at a minimum. Schoolkids are required to test twice a week and if they have an exposure they test every day for ten days. You can pick up a packet of free covid rapid tests for free at any drugstore OR have them mailed to your home.

It's a major failing that our country does not have more widespread testing. We should be encouraging widespread aysmptomatic testing and instead people who are symptomatic are struggling to get tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I'm also in PWC (western end near Bristow.) I posted about a week ago that i needed a Covid test for an event and the lack of availability at local pharmacies--I was even willing to go as far as Richmond but there was nothing!
I ended up looking at the CVS website really early in the morning (I think at about 6 am) and there was plenty of same day availability-even thought the previous day there had been none. So I think they must "open up" the testing appointments for same day very early in the morning.

Thanks for the tip! I'll check early in the morning to see if I can get an earlier appointment.

[Anonymous]

Can you drive to Springfield? My go-to place is right off 95/395/495 and has daily drive tru testing with no appt necessary (though I strongly recommend getting there early!). PCR results in 24 hrs and it’s free with insurance.

https://covidfairfax.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you drive to Springfield? My go-to place is right off 95/395/495 and has daily drive tru testing with no appt necessary (though I strongly recommend getting there early!). PCR results in 24 hrs and it’s free with insurance.

https://covidfairfax.com/

Thanks! I just called them and they test 2 year olds, so I'll definitely consider that as an option as well.