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Demand for coronavirus testing has exploded in San Francisco amid the wave of delta variants, with the city’s average seven-day tests collected nearly doubling last month – from 2,862 on July 1 to 5,268 on July 1. August, according to the city’s coronavirus dashboard.
But many people complain that tests and appointments are more difficult to obtain, especially since San Francisco closed its mass testing center at the Embarcadero when the state reopened in mid. -June.
Because the delta variant is highly contagious, testing is even more important because those infected are more likely to pass it on to others. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says that even vaccinated people, if exposed to the virus, should be tested 3 to 5 days after exposure, whether or not they are showing symptoms.
To get a feel for the current situation in San Francisco, where I live, I tried to find a test myself on Monday.
I started on the city’s website, which has a map of free and paid COVID-19 testing sites. I was hoping to find a free host site that I could go to immediately.
According to the website, there were around 16 walk-in community testing sites, but only a few were open on Mondays. Most of them were too far away for me to walk or take public transport before they closed in the afternoon.
From there, I decided to look for a date – again, ideally, on the same day. I looked at private providers and emergency care – which health officials say is a first stop for people with health insurance – as well as free city-run sites that require appointments. -you. Nowhere I looked was there was no room available that day or the next.
The first appointment I was able to get was Wednesday afternoon at Carbon Health. To get the appointment, I had to register as a patient and enter my insurance information.
Because demand is high and I didn’t actually need the test – I’m fully vaccinated and have no COVID-19 symptoms – I canceled the appointment after I booked it.
I also decided to look for home tests at city pharmacies. Most people I went to had rapid antigenic tests – but these types of tests tend to be less accurate, especially in asymptomatic cases. None of the pharmacies I went to had the most accurate home PCR tests available, where you swab your nose yourself and send the sample to a lab.
None of the pharmacies offered in-store testing.
Taking a two day test wouldn’t be as bad for someone like me – I don’t live with anyone at risk and I can work from home. But for someone who had been exposed to the virus and lived and worked in a high-risk environment, lack of speed would be a much bigger problem.
On top of that, between researching my options online and going to several stores looking for a PCR test, I spent the whole afternoon trying to get a test. Most people, especially if they need an emergency test, don’t have a lot of time.
When I detailed my experience at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, they sent me a statement saying they were working with their testing contractors “to expand testing quickly, if necessary.”
The department “is focused on providing testing in vulnerable communities most affected by COVID-19 in addition to ensuring appropriate testing in high-risk environments such as shelters and skilled nursing facilities,” the statement said. .
The release also says that people with health care coverage – who the department says make up 95% of San Francisco residents – can get a test from their primary care doctor and anyone can buy. rapid home test kits.
I asked a friend and colleague who recently had a test in San Francisco how long it took to get results, and both said they were back in a day or two.
Beyond San Francisco, because the nine-county Bay Area is so vast and encompasses so many health agencies and providers, it’s hard to quantify. Experiences seem to vary by region, with some people on social media sites like Twitter and NextDoor reporting a lot of difficulty finding a test and others getting one right away.
However, vaccines are readily available throughout the region. The San Francisco Department of Health has encouraged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Experts argue that even though some breakthrough infections do occur, vaccines remain very effective in preventing serious illness, with the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 now occurring in unvaccinated people.
For more information:
You can consult our guide for more information on coronavirus testing and how to find one in your area. The Chronicle also has interactive tracking of Bay Area coronavirus testing sites that do not require a doctor’s referral.
Danielle Echeverria is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @DanielleEchev
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