COVID Testing Without Cars

How are people who do not drive, and who might be in a wheelchair supposed to get COVID tested? Many of the testing centers I see are drive thru. Some are in hospital centers, but I suppose the person who thinks they have COVID is supposed to get on a bus with everyone else? If the test site is close enough to walk to, can they walk, considering they have a dibilitating pulmonary infection? Probably not.

I do not understand why testing kits are not freely mailed to every home in the US so peple can rapid test at home weekly. Yeah, it would be expensive. But isn't testing a great first line of defense? I used to imagine the glorious future when schoolchildren would be swabbed as they stepped up to the doors of school and test results known within 60 seconds. But we never got that advanced with our testing capabilities.

There are tests for sale in pharmacies, but those are $30 each and results take several days. I should have a test kid in my house for each resident. It should be rapid, less than 10 minutes for results. That way I know - hey, is this a regular cold or allegy issue, or did I really get COVID this time?

Vaccines are great and I think if you can get one, you should. But testing is a powerful weapon in the fight against COVID. Everyone having access to free and fast testing should be a priority. Testing centers have expanded greatly around the US and that is good, but some people seem to still be left behind. Those with disabilities or those who do not drive suffer without access to testing. They do not have tests at home. They cannot easily get themselves to a testing center. No one should be driving a possible COVID-positive person in their car or bus.

I know some organizations deliver test kits. But the prices I have seen for those are $109 and over for same day delivery. If you are willing to wait a week, prices are closer to $40. Who can do that every week?

Let's not forget the disabled and nondrivers when we talk about easy access to testing. We have made improvements, but we are not meeting all the demand just yet. U