Earlier this morning, we told you how CNN’s Brian Stelter said the media needs to do a better job calling out testing problems across the country. ICYMI, here it is again:
Personally, for what little it’s worth, my view aligns with Reason mag senior editor Robby Soave: “Basically everyone is going to get covid eventually,” he wrote, “and when you get it, you’re either going to be vaccinated, or you’re going to wish you were vaccinated.” Coming down with Covid in December 2021 means something different than it did in December 2020. So news coverage must convey that and explain why. And the coverage must continue to highlight testing problems. Access to vaccines was a big story; access to testing should be, as well…
And then we saw this tweet from NYC council-member elect Crystal Hudson begging Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Kathy Hochul to “please get it together” and fix the “testing problems” right there in Brian’s backyard:
I came to a @nycHealthy mobile testing site (Bergen & Troy) this morning to get a rapid test (they were out yesterday), and this is what I found…
Infections are ⬆️ & we do not have adequate testing. Please get it together @GovKathyHochul @NYCMayor @HealthNYGov @NYCHealthCommr pic.twitter.com/ZP15vG5Pge
— Crystal Hudson (@crystalrhudson) December 16, 2021
In case the media is curious, go and check it out!
By the way, this site opens at 8am and I was there at 825am. With the resources we have available to us (vs many other municipalities) we should be nimble enough to ramp up to 24hr testing as infection & hospitalization rates go up.
— Crystal Hudson (@crystalrhudson) December 16, 2021
Now, for comparison purposes, this editor was tested for Covid on Monday in Miami. Here’s how that went:
I went to a walk-up testing site in Miami on Monday at 3pm. Was tested within 10 minutes. Rapid test results were emailed to me within 30 mins, PCR test by 9:30pm.
Thanks, @GovRonDeSantis. https://t.co/ebFPSDzoRH— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) December 16, 2021
Maybe Gov. Ron DeSantis can give them some pointers on how to do things?
The city has closed some brick and mortar sites and said it's shifting its focus to these mobile sites. The locations may be more convenient, but the issue with them is it's two guys in a van – they can't get through a lot of people quickly the way larger sites can. https://t.co/jnXpzTlwzI
— Erin Durkin (@erinmdurkin) December 16, 2021
And, yes, New York *did* blow it:
we had so long to prep for another variant/winter spike and we really blew it huh https://t.co/3IbZ9Nz0A9
— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) December 16, 2021
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