Here's a story of an ongoing personal journey of mine -- that makes it clear to me the vastness of the COVID spread across Phoenix is still so little understood:
I have sought a COVID test after being around crowds the last week+ -- with the desire to keep one's own family safe.
I have sought a COVID test after being around crowds the last week+ -- with the desire to keep one's own family safe.
-Yesterday & today, all the time slots for CVS testing sites within 30 miles of me are full. There are no walk-ins for COVID tests at CVS. (Also, CVS says you have too have to be legal resident of state you're being tested in -- was going to try to get by as technically a DCer) 
The NextCare Urgent Care on Thomas & 17th St in Phoenix on Friday had a 5.5 hour wait. Folks were sitting outside with masks — it was 104 degrees out.
I stopped at the Sonora Quest Labratories on McDowell Rd in Phoenix this Saturday morning. After waiting in line, I was informed that they were only doing antibody tests — not actual COVID tests. It was suggested I check out Banner Health’s testing operations for the day.
So I drove back to dtown Phx -- Banner Urgent Care on Washington & 1st St -- where I was told that I was not able to get a test because I am not showing symptoms.
I stopped short of begging, tho said I'm staying w/ 2 individuals in vulnerable age range & have been in crowds.
I stopped short of begging, tho said I'm staying w/ 2 individuals in vulnerable age range & have been in crowds.
I was told by the friendly woman at the counter at the Banner Urgent Care in downtown Phoenix that my best option was to wait until Monday when Banner Health's drive-thru operation at the state fairgrounds opens back up. To note, there are no walk-ins at fairgrounds:
So then I drove down to midtown Phoenix -- to another NextCare Urgent Care location -- they said the results would be a 10-12 day turnaround & could not provide an estimate on how long the wait would be as others donning masks sat in the waiting room.
So then, giving up on today & looking to tomorrow, all the appointments for the greater Phoenix's NextCare Urgent Care facilities are booked for Sunday -- the nearest available appointment is Prescott (1.5 hours north of Phoenix).
Again, I don't have kids or an hourly job to worry about getting to. But this is not the definition of testing for anyone who wants it.
.@Puenteaz announced they’d ran out of tests by 10:43 a.m. this morning. I happened to drive by here too — the line of cars was long (because of obvious high demand).
H/t @brahmresnik
H/t @brahmresnik
Just talked with an official from the Arizona Governor’s office ~ I’m told the state lab has testing availability & that the state is working to ensure those tests are made available to lab partners to maintain & increase testing. Acknowledgement that it should not be this hard.
One issue at play, I’m told: Banner Health does not have a sufficient number of machines to process the actual tests. The state says it’s working with them on federal $$ to increase number of machines as demand for tests has risen.
More questions to be addressed.
More questions to be addressed.
Update ~
Yesterday, I scheduled that 9:30am appointment for NextCare Urgent Care in Prescott that was available. This was supposed to be one of their Rapid Test facilities. Was just told it’s a 7-10 day turnaround. “That’s how long it’s taking here,” the check-in gentleman said.
Yesterday, I scheduled that 9:30am appointment for NextCare Urgent Care in Prescott that was available. This was supposed to be one of their Rapid Test facilities. Was just told it’s a 7-10 day turnaround. “That’s how long it’s taking here,” the check-in gentleman said.
This is a heckuva chain from @ujohnnyg on his family’s effort to get tested in Maryvale (a Phoenix suburb) yesterday:
