Help on the way to get a COVID testing kit

For folks wondering if it’ll be safe to gather with loved ones for the holidays, they’re not alone. For folks unable to get a COVID test to find out, they’re not alone, either.

At Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes, Pharmacist John McDonald says even when he’s been able to get test kits in the store, he says they’re gone an hour later. He realizes why it creates such a dilemma for customers.

"It’s very difficult now, particularly. A lot of individuals, out of an abundance of caution, want to be with their family members, so they’re looking to get that kit, so they can do the swab Thursday morning before they can get in their car and go see their families, and it’s a scramble," said McDonald.

In other parts of Albany County, there seems to be encouraging news.

"We’re getting a bunch of testing kits in now, and you’re going to see them being rolled out in the next couple of weeks – especially in the black and brown community," said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.

In the MVP Health Care community, there is now a brand new on-demand COVID-19 PCR testing program that allows members to schedule an appointment to arrange testing at their home or business.

"We knew that once we were able to get the service to our members that there would be a lot of interest, both for COVID testing but also for all the other testing that’s been avoided since COVID started," said Dr. Kim Kirby, with MVP Health Care.

While COVID testing remains one of the biggest challenges for the Biden administration, in the coming weeks and months, Americans are likely to find out how well the federal government is rising up to that challenge.