I like the ones I got through them a lot, though they do take a little time to ship.
I am tired of the people who say well, if you were vaccinated, caught COVID and died, it’s probably because you had 4 or more comorbidities, really unwell. As if they were just lying on their deathbed waiting to die anyway.
I have more than 4 comorbidities and if I don’t lose weight I’ll probably die prematurely, but I’m alert and conscious and work a 40-hour week. 
Gotta blame the victim. I mean, what a horrible world if people just randomly die from COVID, and it’s not their fault!
From the company president:
COVID continues to be a challenge for all of us and, in the last week, more than 30% of us have been out sick. Some of us have tested positive for COVID, some just don’t feel good. Either way, this is having an impact on our business which necessitates a new rule.
Effective immediately, a PCR test will be required for anyone currently having any kind of unusual symptoms that might suggest COVID; or if you have already had COVID. You may end up just having a cold or flu which, I guess, is good. We have had too many of us or our family/friends touched by COVID to just sit back and be casual about it. If you test positive, you will likely be working from home for a while. Get the test done this week.
For anyone who feels fine, shows no symptoms of any kind, and has not had COVID, a home test will be required. These tests also need to be done this week; the sooner the better. If you need help finding a home test, let me know. Remote workers are included in this including our colleagues in Alaska and Hawaii. Everyone gets to participate; no exceptions.
Please send/scan the results to me. I will hold them in confidence and ultimately destroy them as soon as possible.
It is no secret that I am a believer in being vaccinated. (First two shots, booster, no tail grew.) It’s probably also evident that I’m tired of having to make and enforce rules around COVID. So, I ask everyone to take responsibility for limiting the spread of this virus. I cannot tell you what to do on your own time other than to ask that we all exhibit care in how we conduct our lives. This is not a political statement and I don’t care about anyone’s political views when it comes to COVID. I do care about our collective health and if we all do our part (masks; handwashing; wiping down counters, keyboards, mice; social distancing; etc) perhaps we can get this thing under control. Please do your part.
Please contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to receiving your test results.
[NB: 30% sounds like a lot of people, but there are only about a dozen of us.]
I’ve called Rite-Aid. They don’t have any rapid tests. I checked Walgreens’ website, and they have no appointments in Whatcom County. I tried to book an appointment down in Skagit County, but Walgreens’ website said they’re having ‘technical difficulties’ at the final step. I tried a pharmacy in Ferndale, and they’re out; with no idea when they might have more. Whatcom County Department of Health is only doing PCR tests. I did order two tests from Amazon, but they may not be delivered until February 6th. (I’ll have to learn how to file a claim with my insurance provider to see about reimbursement.) I posted on Nextdoor to see if anyone knows where I can get a rapid test. And I’ve replied to the company president asking him for help finding a test.
I’m fully on-board with vaccinations and insurance-paid testing; but finding a test is a royal pain in the arse.
Around here, a lot of pharmacies are holding COVID rapid tests behind the counter and only giving them to customers that specifically ask for them. Quantity is limited to two packages of tests (some tests come two to a package, some are one to a package).
I specifically asked, and the pharmacies say they don’t have any.
El Jefe replied, ‘We’ll work around it. You’re actually the least of my concerns.’ (I only go to the office twice a week, and I’m by myself in the basement.) Also, there are apparently a few test kits at the office, and one is being saved for me. I suppose I can do the test right there. Not sure how far to stick the swab up my nasum, but I’m sure there will be instructions.
I don’t know what the local rules are about such things but that sounds to me like a potential breach of data protection regulations if it is being done informally.
I know in my own organisation there would have to be substantial legal discussions before doing anything like it.
One last thing to suggest is BrickSeek.com (see below). I used BrickSeek once last week to see if any of our local WalMarts had some COVID home tests, and I got a hit.
Go to the home page and click on “Inventory Checkers” at the top. They’ve only got information for ten brick-&-mortar retailers – WalMart (incl. the Neighborhood Markets), Target, and CVS would seem to be the most relevant for places that would carry COVID rapid tests. They’ve also got BJ’s Wholesale Club, but I am not familiar with them.
Anyway, you click on a retailer, then you can enter either SKU number or UPC number for the item you want, plus a ZIP code to search the stores nearest you.
The relevant numbers for two types of COVID tests commonly sold by retailers in the U.S.:
BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Self Test by Abbott (2 Count)
UPC: 811877011408
Flowflex COVID‐19 Antigen Home Test by ACON Laboratories (1 Count)
UPC: 682607660261
In the US, it’s not really an issue since CoVID is a contagious disease.
https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/law-and-life/is-it-legal-to-ask-for-covid-19-test-results/
Starting on January 19 you can order them from the federal government at https://www.covidtests.gov/ but they probably won’t arrive soon enough to help you.
Just throwing it out there – I got an email from Costco a few days ago that they had tests, and I immediately ordered some. 5 Flowflex tests for $47 or something like that. Free shipping. Not a big discount, but convenient and a trusted source. I don’t trust what I might get from Amazon, for example.
Not everyone is a Costco member, but sometimes you’ll know someone who is.
@eschrodinger how’s your family doing? It sounded like you were worried that you were all getting it once again.
We all got sick to some degree, but my daughter tested negative, and I tested twice about 5 days apart and it was negative both times. So, I guess it was a bad cold or mild flu (we are all vaccinated for that, too). I think it hit me extra hard because I still had lingering fatigue from covid.
I’m taking my first COVID-19 test. I was confused by ‘press timer button’ in the instructions, as I didn’t see one on the pregnancy test thingy. Turns out you have to use the phone app.
A little over 8 minutes to go until I see the results.
Glad you found some fairly quickly. How did you happen upon them?
El Presidente de Company said there were a few in the office. I got one for the mandatory ‘by the end of the week’ testing edict. Should have my own in a couple of weeks, and I’ll order some from Uncle Sam.
Negative for plague, BTW.
COVIDtest.gov is open now, ours should be here in less than a month.
Let us know if you’re having a boy or a girl…
I don’t know what it’s called, and I couldn’t be arsed to pull the box out of the trash to find out.
Actually, the woman who gave it to me verbally gave me instructions with the kit and she called it a ‘pregnancy test strip’. I asked her if I had to pee on it.
And you pay for those out-of-pocket?
My God. That sucks. In Holland they are only about 3 Euros per test and we, because we have primary school kids, are provided with two tests per child per week. At my office there’s a stack of FlowFlexes in the office supply cabinet and they stock up regularly, to take for us as needed.