An ode to travel woes during this COVID season: on an intl work flight with a stop in the UK. My pre-flight PCR has not resulted… and is required for the layover. (1/n)
I am fully vaccinated. The rapid molecular I did yesterday doesn’t count. So I ran to the testing center within the airport for an antigen. As you can imagine, many are in this same situation (result delays, travel restrictions, etc.) - it is La grande shit show. (2/n)
Fully booked with a line for walk-ins that is a minimum of a 1-2 hour wait and then 1 hour wait to get results, which you must receive in person/paper. $250 rapid PCRs are the only option. I give it 30 and realizing my fate, push my flight (like many in line). (3/n)
Folks in front of me tell everyone they were on a family trip where 50% are now pos & we should “give them space”. I overhear one of the pos family members is actually in the airport waiting area & they’re complaining about the isolation period. I quietly sob into my hoodie (4/n)
The walk-in line grows- the exhausted testing staff tell us all that if we’re not seen within 4 hours, we won’t be able to get tested, so start making decisions. It was ultimately 90 minutes before I was seen (tears of joy). (5/n)
I share this bc I am very privileged to be able to pay for the test (wtf is that price??) & be able to move my flight. A testing crisis in our second winter of a pandemic & a predictable surge is simply not ok. These are not diagnostic tests, but travel ones. This👏🏻is👏🏻not👏🏻ok👏🏻
Also, my original PCR result just came in as I’m typing this (screams into the void). Cheers folks- have a happy and safe New Years (7/7)
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