Thread by @racheld

I’m currently on hold for the coronavirus hotline [phone]) hoping to get tested at Jones Beach. I’ve been waiting on hold for 15 minutes and dealing with strange migraine-inducing feedback/interference every few minutes on the line.

Unfortunately the recording didn’t capture the sound (I posted it while I was on hold so didn’t have the chance to listen.) But suffice it to say it was really bad.

After 20 minutes of holding with the crazy interference sounds, I was asked a series of questions about Josh. I gave all the information, including the fact that he recently traveled to Seattle and Sacramento for work.

They said thanks and that a healthcare professional will call me back. When? Well, “it might be 2 hours, it might be 2 days,” the person on the other end of the line said.

Can I just drive to Jones Beach to the new testing clinic? “No, you need an appointment.”

We have still not heard back about testing. I’ll keep this thread updated with the latest in case it’s helpful to anyone.

I’m on hold with the testing hotline again. There’s still the same headache-inducing interference in between messages about where to find information on their website.

Hoping we can get tested at Stonybrook, where a new drive-thru testing center just opened. (You need an appointment though.)

After waiting on hold for 30 minutes I was told that since I already called yesterday I need to wait for them to call me back. When will that be? “We don’t know.”

It’s been over 24 hours since I first called the corinavirus hotline. No response yet. Will update when/if I get a call back.

Heads up that we are now on day 2 since I called the coronavirus hotline in an attempt to get an appointment for a test at a drive through clinic. Husband still sick. No call back yet.

Oh great. I just missed a call from a Schenectady number while I was dealing with my son. I think it was the coronavirus hotline finally calling me back after 48 hours. They didn’t leave a message because of HIPAA and the number doesn’t work for return calls. What now?

I called back to find out next steps. I’m on hold. Estimated wait time is between 72 and 82 minutes. Cool.

One thing I can say that has improved about the coronavirus hotline is that there is no longer the insane microphone interference noises in between messages to “please hold for the next available representative.”

32 minutes down, 50 to go.

Update...again, I hope my husband isn't mad that I am divulging this information, but while I was waiting on hold for the coronavirus testing line, my husband called from upstairs. He was having trouble breathing. He told me to call an ambulance. I did.

The first responders were amazing. They came in 10 minutes. This was the scene at my front door.

I don't know why I am Tweeting right now. I just want other people to know that this is fucking serious. And the silver lining is that now at least Josh will be tested. This is what it takes to get a test for #Covid19.

I am so enraged. If our government had taken this seriously 6 weeks ago, we could have flattened the curve and not put all these first responders' lives at risk. If we could have implemented travel restrictions earlier, maybe my husband wouldn't have gone to Seattle for work.

I'll keep you all posted, thanks for the kind words. This has been terrible.

Update: Josh has pneumonia. He's in the hospital and getting good care. Awaiting various test results.

Thanks to everyone for checking in on Josh. He continues to run a high fever and is short of breath. He's getting good care. I wish I had more updates but we're still waiting for test results. (He finally was tested for #COVID19 after being admitted to the hospital yesterday.)

People keep asking "Are you there with him?" and the answer is no. We are not allowed to be there. It's too dangerous.

So when I think back to when our lying piece of shit President said that this was "under control" (Feb. 24) and it's "just 15 people" and very soon will be down to zero (Feb 26) please forgive me if I never stop throwing up.

It's been 48 hours since my husband was admitted to the ICU and tested for #COVID19. I spoke to a wonderful nurse today and she said that the results are still not in, but that she would call LabCorp and see if they could move him to "the front of the line."

The reason why he will be moved to the front of the line is pretty horrible and not something I ever thought I would be writing. As of last night, my husband is on a ventilator.

This is a national scandal. In Korea, you can pull up to a drive-through testing facility and get results texted to you in a matter of hours. Here, in the wealthiest country in the world, you have to be on a ventilator to get moved to the front of the line.

Everything that Donald Trump has told us is a lie. I agree with @maddow and @jayrosen_nyu that it is woefully irresponsible to continue to air his propaganda on the news.

I spoke to the brother of a friend today who is an infectious disease MD/PhD on the front lines of this crisis. He was so helpful and it kills me that people like him have to put their lives at risk because this administration missed the chance to flatten the curve.

We must all ask #WhereAreTheTestKits. We must never forget that Donald Trump fired the entire pandemic response team at the NSC, leaving us ill-equipped to handle this crisis.

Well, three days after my husband was admitted to the ICU, where he remains on a ventilator, his #COVID19 test results are finally in. It will surprise nobody to learn he tested positive, but nevertheless wanted to deliver that update. #WhereAreTheTests? (cc @danielsgoldman)