Dear State of Iowa COVID19 Task Force, Kim Reynolds Administration:
You purposely made it so the only way asymptomatic people in Johnson County could get tested is by risking exposure that renders the test moot. TestIowa is only for the privileged who have cars. Any individual lucky enough to be able to get a ride with a friend willing to risk their own life driving someone in the enclosed space of a vehicle for half an hour or longer to Cedar Rapids puts themselves and their friend at risk. Or, you have to take the 380Express bus (a bus service FINALLY made after 40 years- but only temporary, during the construction on the Interstate highway), again for drivers only and those who don't or can't drive. Anyway, you actively exclude, clearly don't count--putting yourself at distinct risk on public transit for an hour or an hour and a half in an enclosed space with a number of other people. Then, when you get to Cedar Rapids, you have to take another bus and walk, if you're able to, to get to the TestIowa site... where they discriminate against people who don't have cars. On top of that--depending on when your appointment is, but for most appointments, you can't get home [on the bus]. The 380Express bus runs at such limited time, and again, requires taking another CR City bus to get to it that for a late afternoon or evening test you'd have to stay in Cedar Rapids overnight, spending money on a hotel (a huge cost and a huge Corona exposure risk) or find a friend to stay with. What is the point of getting a test if then you're going to be exposed indoors while sleeping for 6-12 hours in a new house that you don't live in, with a person you're not intending to have serious contact and exposure with? What happens if I go up to get a test and don't have a person to stay with? Will C.R. police harass & arrest me for trying to sleep on the street? Will I get sick from walking to a shelter & staying with 50 other people who don't wear masks some sleeping? Or walking there only to get turned away? Will I get mugged or raped trying to sleep in a park? Or, do I spend $50 staying in a hotel, another $20 on a cab ride there--plus a long cold walk, or hot humid walk this summer, & more exposure in a vehicle with a new person, then on the City bus or 2 City buses in the morning before the 380Express bus back. That's $77 minimum. Then, when I get back to Iowa City, I have to walk and wait up to an hour to get on another bus to get home or to work. A vehicle is a huge expense that not everyone has. Where and what is the testing set up for people who are on foot, bicycle, or wheelchair? You do not care about people who aren't the middle-class; you do not care about poor people. You do not care about actually stopping corona spread, clearly. People who don't drive are an afterthought in your testing planning. You do not consider us people. We are not in your usual planning, even in the case of a life-threatening, global pandemic. All of the messaging is "drive-thru testing"; get a test "from your car." (My car?) I guess you're going to give me a car when I get a test? For poor people or "those dang socialists in Johnson County/Iowa City." Isn't it funny how the self-ambulating or non-ambulating &/or poor in the "liberal" area who are asymptomatic, but likely asymptomatic carriers, in this top densely populated spot have had zero way to get a test until just a few weeks ago? - Anonymous
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