This week, amid the latest omicron variant wave, we asked readers about their recent experience of either getting tested on-site for COVID-19 or of waiting for free, home test kits.

 

“I went to get tested because my granddaughter was COVID positive. I waited 48 hours before visiting the LevelUp Urgent Care on East 204th Street and lucky me I wasn’t cold, because it was a warm day. I was in line from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m., but because I was negative, it didn’t mess up my plans. Some folks came with entire families and at 5:45 [a.m.] there were already twenty people on the line… Later, the line almost went to Mosholu Parkway.”

 

Sheila Sanchez,

Norwood

(at LevelUp Urgent Care, East 204th Street in Norwood)

 

“I think the giveaway [for home testing kits] is great because most people are having a very difficult time [getting tested]. I think we’re in a very serious situation with the pandemic. We have people who think it’s a hoax and people are dying, and it’s just a matter of [them] saying ‘it’s their freedom.’ I say our health and our lives and anything that can be done to help those who can’t do for themselves is greatly appreciated. I’m going to take the test. I’m the site manager here [Dennis Lane Apt. complex, Belmont] and I have people coming in and out of my office, and they’re not allowed in without a mask. If I could ask them their vaccination status, I would, but I can’t.”

Susan Shatz,

Brooklyn

(at Dennis Lane Apartments in Belmont, where Rep. Ritchie Torres held a test kit giveaway on Jan. 6)

 

“I just came out for the [home] test [kit] because I live here. I will probably hold onto it until I have symptoms, because I am a veteran so I can go to the V.A. Hospital to make sure I’m good. But this test [kit] is for my wife because she’s not covered by my [health] coverage, because I only spent two years in the army and she’s not eligible for whatever I get as a veteran. This kit giveaway is great because it gives people hope, because we all have to hope and have a little patience and make sure that whatever you do is going to help the community.”

Lewellyn Bernard,

Belmont

(at Dennis Lane Apartments in Belmont, where Rep. Ritchie Torres held a test kit giveaway on Jan. 6.)

 

“The lines have been terrible; I mean I’ve gone to four different places. Every time I try and get tested, I go to four different places. I spent like four hours last time; it was terrible! Right now, it happens to be a little bit easier because I stayed on line [in the past] and they told me it was over and I left. But these people right here are very accommodating; this is the only place that actually  took care of the patients before they actually got inside, and they provided everyone with hot chocolate. This messed up some of my holiday plans. In fact, if we had the ability to do quicker testing, we would have been able to do a lot more, and we would have known who was sick, who to bring, and who not to bring. The holidays would have been better. I was actually positive a few days ago, and I believe I’m past the timeframe according to the CDC, but I wanted to get a negative test before..”

Bestar Mujaj,

Norwood

(at LevelUp Urgent Care, East 204th Street in Norwood)

 

“It didn’t mess me up because I was out of work for a year and a half due to the COVID. The line wasn’t too bad, but the only thing I can’t understand is about this new variant now that is so transmittable. How come, all of a sudden, everybody is getting sick with the shot and without the shot. I haven’t gotten the shot, but two of my engineers that I worked for had their shots, and they caught the virus two weeks ago. One had the booster shot, and he caught it, so there’s still a lot to be explained about this thing that’s going around. I think it will be with us forever, like the flu.”

 

Joseph Parrome,

Bedford Park

(at St. James Park mobile testing site at Jerome Avenue & E. 192nd Street in Fordham Manor)