We have no coordinated system for dealing with this pandemic in this country. It's a colossal disaster.
We are slow at work, so my coworker is working part time. She has no health insurance. She moonlights as a bartender so she can pay the rent. As you might expect, she was exposed to a person with Covid at her bartending job. 9 days after exposure, she got a call that she was exposed to a person who tested positive (they have 4 positive tests and counting currently.) She immediately gets a doctor's appointment ($140) and they recommend a test (next day, $170). She got the lab test due to the well published lack of accuracy of the quick-test (assuming the quick test was even offered.)
Currently I am in quarantine 5 days later waiting patiently for her result. By the time the result comes in, it'll be pointless. I have had to curtail ANY interaction with people (shopping, bringing mom stuff etc) since last Tuesday. IF she tests positive, then that puts a whole new set of events into motion (all essentially too delayed to make any difference.)
Am I wrong to be livid at how utterly inept our system is 9 months into this pandemic? Why are poor people who are barely making ends meet paying for tests? Why are doctors charging $140 just to give permission to take a test? Why are results so delayed as to have essentially no usefulness? Our entire company is on hold waiting for this result. We're honestly not much better than a 3rd world country at this point, it's no wonder our response to this pandemic has been a disaster. Obviously we would be much batter off if we had an actual coordinated government response, which starts at the top. Worst president ever. Biden can't get into office fast enough.