Well, of course, this post is reflective of Lincoln in a nutshell. (And in that vein, Dennis is jumping in to offer up some perhaps-helpful points)
1. This free distribution plan that Sara touted in the original email is, as she noted, for “over the counter (OTC) at-home rapid antigen tests”. This is NOT an offer for the testing that one may have obtained previously, with a 24-72 hour turnaround. These are tests that one could buy off the shelf at your local CVS or Walgreens, or via Amazon if . . . . 2. These over the counter (OTC) at-home rapid antigen tests are TOO EXPENSIVE in the UNITED STATES. Assuming you can find one, they cost $10, $20, $30 or more PER TEST. What about in Europe? One can find the same type of tests in Germany for LESS THAN $1 apiece. And that’s at market price! In those countries where the government is subsidizing these types of tests, it’s a few cents per test, or free! So why is there such a price discrepancy? Because… 3. The FDA *sucks*. As usual. This is a prominent example of regulatory failure. Epidemiologists and economists from all part of the political spectrum have been BEGGING for the FDA to approve these types of tests going back to MARCH 2020 (!!!). But because the FDA is yet another government agency, with horrible incentives, being run by terrible political leadership (on both sides of the aisle), people are dying and being hospitalized that are very much avoidable. 4. Especially now, with the benefit of hindsight, the SINGLE BEST WEAPON WE HAVE LEFT in fighting Covid (of all variants) is the widespread proliferation of CHEAP, AVAILABLE, RAPID-TESTS. So that folks can test themselves easily at home EVERY DAY, and avoid going out and interacting with others and spreading the virus. This saddens me. Rather than arguing about income distribution, might I suggest that the best use of energy here would be to help persuade our political leaders to make changes at agencies like the FDA, so that the United States can follow in the steps of other countries, and make rapid tests more available, for (far) less costs, and institute some actually-helpful regulations to make self-testing popular across the country? [Sources for all of the above are available to anyone who’s interested.] Yegads. --Dennis From: Lincoln <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Carol Ryan Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 12:46 PM To: Richard Panetta <[email protected]> Cc: Lincoln Talk <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] 2 million free rapid Covid tests to 102 low-income communities-Lincoln and Weston made the cut! Where can a person who is not feeling well get a test ? Most testing sites do not have available appointments. Does it make sense to have people standing lined up in a parking garage for an hour + to get tested? Carol Ryan Sent from my iPhone On Dec 14, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Richard Panetta <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I’ve yet to get a test but have heard if you are ill it is free but if you need one for travel you have to pay. Emerson does it for $105 Is this true? On Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 12:35 PM Tamika Mayes <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I agree 100% This pandemic has exposed an ugly side of access to quality healthcare to those who live in poor areas. Tamika M. On Tue, Dec 14, 2021, 12:30 PM Carol Ryan <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Testing should be free for everyone ! It is a shameful portrayal of our society that this is viewed as a competition. Not exactly a message of goodwill. Carol Ryan Sent from my iPhone On Dec 14, 2021, at 11:06 AM, Sara Mattes <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: A tale of (at least) 2 Lincoln’s Income Distribution info from 2017 community data+ St. Vincent dePaul at working to meet growing needs (current) Sara <Lincoln-Income Distribution.pdf> <St.Vincenet de Paul-Our dollars at work.pdf> On Dec 14, 2021, at 7:37 AM, Jason Lee <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Hello, I certainly agree with the sentiment and I’m happy Lincoln can provide free Covid tests to the town’s low income residents. But the “we beat out” 2/3rds of other towns and cities in MA took me aback. Lincoln rates 13/299 in per capita income. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Massachusetts_locations_by_per_capita_income#Cities_and_Towns Stay safe , good health to all, and happy holidays! Jason Lee On Dec 14, 2021, at 6:44 AM, Stephanie Smoot <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Thats great that we got free covid tests for our low-income residents and beat out 250 of our 351 towns & cities in Massachusetts. This holiday season, help someone who needs one get a free Covid test. Regards, Stephanie Smoot 857 368-9175 work 781 941-6842 personal cell 617 595-5217 work cell 126 Chestnut Circle <https://www.google.com/maps/search/126+Chestnut+Circle+Lincoln,+MA+01773?entry=gmail&source=g> Lincoln, MA 01773 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/126+Chestnut+Circle+Lincoln,+MA+01773?entry=gmail&source=g> On Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 12:55 AM Sara Mattes <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: "Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration will deliver over 2 million free rapid Covid tests to <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-self-test-distribution> 102 low-income communities... "Massachusetts has secured 2..1 million iHealth Labs over the counter (OTC) at-home rapid antigen tests. These kits will be delivered later this week to more than 100 municipalities with a larger proportion of families facing financial hardship" https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-self-test-distribution#how-communities-were-selected- Sara -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9...pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/> . Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. 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