Ulster County & NYC are giving out free rapid Covid tests. It's very difficult to get the rapid tests here in Westchester. Quotes from Greenburgh residents who are upset
NYS should make available to any municipality that wants to distribute free rapid Covid tests the rapid tests. Ulster County is giving the tests out. If NYS would provide Greenburgh with free test kits we would be happy to distribute them to any resident who wants them. If it's difficult to get a rapid test - many people will give up on testing and will infect others. We are not doing enough to stop the spread.
https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2021/12/19/free-covid-test-kits-available-throughout-ulster-county/
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
THESE ARE SOME COMMENTS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES GETTING TESTS (most on facebook, nextdoor)
I have been receiving numerous complaints from residents about the difficulties they are having getting rapid Covid tests. One woman indicated that her "daughter needed a Covid test for surgery and waited close to 5 hours because it was difficult to get the rapid tests. Another option: Manhattan but a woman had been exposed and she did not want to get on a train or stay in a car with someone else."
Another person waited close to 4 hours in a Hudson Valley hospital because there were no rapid tests in Westchester.
People are complaining: lack of home kits in pharmacies. Difficulties getting N95 masks.
"right now there is a lack of testing sites in Westchester and if you find one, it could be a 2-4 hour wait....there is no way that people should have to stand online at 8 AM to get a test at 11 or 12. I feel like we didn't learn anything from the previous surge."
"Please try to open up a testing site at the Westchester County Center, the Theodore Young Community Center, the Community Center on the grounds of the Greenburgh swimming pool. Maybe even at the Greenburgh Public Library."
"Pharmacies are all out of home tests."
"In order to get into one of the Urgent care location you need to be on the line 1 hour before they open It is all insane. Need to find Neighbors and Friends who are doctors that might be able to get the Covid test kits."
"We went an hour before it opened, waited on line for over an hour once it opened and once we got in we were just registered and had to wait another 1.5 hours. The Covid test kits are easily available in other parts of the state -there is a shortage in Westchester. It's like March, 2020 all over again."
"Nearly impossible to get a PCR at CVS or Walgreens. All appointments are booked."
"Unfortunately my Christmas is getting ruined by the second, my husband's family is all infected, now my sister and my niece."
"Make the Westchester County Center a testing site now that is no longer a vaccination site. Standing for three hours waiting for a test is crazy."
"I said the same thing yesterday. They need to utilize the County Center again."
"I was able to get the last 2 boxes of rapid tests in a CVS in Queens, but gave them to another family member who neeeded them. Why can't we even get ahead of predictable situations."
"Indeed they should be free. I just ordered two boxes for $47. They won't arrive till about the 28th. It is a mess."
"Good luck with urgent care. I called several in Westchester and they were not taking walk ins for testing or had hours long waits outside their facilities. It really shouldn't be this difficult."
"The process of getting a test locally was around 4 hours. Took 2 hours standing outside in the cold online just to sign up. Then waited another 2 hours to get a test. Wanted both a quick test and a pcr but could only choose one. I don't think our experience was unususal. And all places were swamped. In NYC there are test pill ups every block or two. And ample supply."
"They are gone in this region."
"ON CNN the other night the governor of Colorado said that his state had made COVID home tests free and accessible to all residents."