The letter I wrote today to my congressman and City councilman. [View all]

[Shell_Seas]

This last Saturday, I took my 8 month old baby to cooks children's hospital, because she was struggling to breathe. Extreme congestion. There the doc told me she had a virus, possibly coronovirus, but she didn't meet CDC guidelines for testing.

Sunday I started running a fever, when I started to have a hard time breathing, I went to the ER at Medical City Arlington. That was last night. I have pneumonia. I'm really sick. I've had a fever 5 days now. The doc at MCA said it's possible I have coronovirus, but there are no tests.

Why aren't there tests still? I have 6 kids in my house, and my 70 year old mother-in-law. My husband's job is still making him work. He delivers cars between dealerships and the auction all day and comes in contact with dozens and dozens of people.

My mother-in-law works for Dallas county, she's still required to go to work. She doesn't have a car, and rides via to the TRE and then takes the train and then the bus to work. No telling how many people she comes into contact with.

There are 14 people at my job, which is in North Arlington. 5 of us have been out a week or more with upper respiratory illnesses of some kind.

But no one has access to tests. Why?

I called the Tarrant county health department hotline. The woman told me it was impossible to get coronovirus unless you have come in contact with someone who's already tested positive. Which is so wrong. I responded to her and said, what about all of the people who are positive and haven't had access to tests. She didn't respond, instead she changed the subject and told me to go to my ER.

Tarrant county's covid-19 numbers are trailing because we don't have access to tests.

I'm sorry. I just don't know who to turn to. I'm sick and worn down and have been running a fever for 5 days now. I keep hearing on the TV and online that all these other areas are getting tests, drive through testing, and more.

But me and my sick baby, who was 2 months premature can't get tested, even though we have all the symptoms, even though both doctors said we might have it.

I'm so frustrated. I just want to understand why Tarrant county and Arlington don't have tests.

Do you have any answers or can you point me in the right direction?


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At this point, I'm not sure what else to do.

(Via is a ride share service provided by the city. The TRE is a train station)