Thread by @aliciasanchez

I just had my first COVID-19 test done today in Prince George's County, MD. I have no symptoms, and have been seriously quarantining and socially distancing since March - only masked outdoor activities in small groups, no travel, no eating out, etc. A THREAD. #COVID19

I am also very immunocompromised, including having a high risk of inflammation-related disorders and asthma, among other things (which overlap with COVID-19) which has made me extra nervous. ok, COVID-19 testing pros:

No line!
Drive-up COVID test!
Testers were really nice!

I got tested with @keondra. We stayed in the car with our masks on. I was driving, so we had two people asking us questions; one person asking her things, and one person asking me things. my tester starts by asking me for ID! I overhear keondra's tester asking the same

cool! then they write a few things down on the tablet, where they are taking notes. they ask me to review what has been written. lots of errors with my name spelling, email address, etc. no big deal. easy to fix. I notice that they have my race listed as Black and

have checked the box that says "not Latino/Hispanic." So I say, "I'm actually Latino *also* which may be important for data if you can check both." my person's quietly typing into their tablet but I overhear keondra's tester asking lots of questions: are you immunocompromised?

do you have a chronic health condition?
are you currently pregnant?
do you have any mobility issues? (we are sitting in the car, so it would not be wise to assume).
are you experiencing any COVID symptoms?

my tester hasn't asked me any of these questions.

just like they didn't ask me about my ethnicity. so I say "I just overheard the other tester asking my wife about [insert condition here]." I just want to let you know that I *do* have that condition. they say "thanks for letting us no, but that's not actually on the form.

I don't push. IDK what's on the form- it's not my job. but am confused. why is one tester is asking keondra detailed questions that my tester hasn't asked? they finally look up and say "you don't have diabetes, right?" JUST. LIKE. THAT.

I say "no." (but what if I did? AWKWARD)

ok, question time is over. they do the very uncomfortable nose swab, but not before having to correct my name and birthday AGAIN. they corrected it with a pen (not in the tablet), so who knows if they'll ever find me again.
we drive home. when i get home I see an email from +

the test site with a run-down of all of my personal + health information (they got my email right!). they never asked my gender. my race is marked only as Hispanic, which is not AT ALL what I said. and the first question is:

Do you have any of the following medical conditions?

the first option is: Chronic Lung Disease (i.e. asthma/emphysema/COPD). MINE IS MARKED AS "NO." this is because she never asked me. as well as numerous conditions on the list that I explicitly told them I have which may put me at increased risk.

I am surprised by my tester's brazenness in skipping important health questions because keondra's tester was standing RIGHT THERE, doing it right. there was no line or reason to rush. I am concerned re: public health implications of inconsistent COVID-19 data collection.

If you're not asking people their race + ethnicity and making assumptions, we won't have the scope of the disproportionate impact in some communities. If you're assuming I don't have chronic health conditions and disabilities, we may miss an important link.

I was getting tested to be sure. but *if* I needed support- by not asking about my health, not asking if I have insurance or a primary care doctor, I may not get the support I need. I know this is a hard time, and folks are doing their best, and there may be some long term +

health and economic impacts of not having correct data, especially in Black and brown communities. my lesson-learned is: please insist that testers ask you all of the questions on the list or bring it up to them, just in case!

oh, and please keep social distancing! #COVID19