COVID-19 Test Vegas Style

Why do I need one? That is everyone’s question. Well, let’s see. I am in the ‘ancient’ age group, I flew back from overseas, took a cross country drive and ended up with a sore throat and my husband got a fever. My husband already passed his COVID-19 test here and is germ-free. So today is my turn!

It is not as easy as it sounds to get tested for the virus in Las Vegas. Even though the test is free at many drug stores and hospitals, it is difficult to get an appointment. First, we tried to get the drive up test from the drug store CVS through their online registration. There were no appointments available at any of the stores in the whole city of Las Vegas. So I marched into the pharmacist and asked how I can get a test. She said the CVS testing slots are full, but to keep trying online. We tried repeatedly, but there were no openings. Meanwhile, my husband ended up in the Emergency Room for another health issue. He asked the doctor for a COVID-19 test and got one on the spot. My husband had his results within hours and luckily he tested negative for the virus. I don’t want to go to the Emergency Room in order to get the test. Meanwhile, my husband searched online and found a public testing station sponsored by his hospital half an hour away. I guess you could call that local. The unique location for the drive up testing was in the parking structure of a local casino. That’s the way they test the virus Las Vegas-style. 

I drove up to the “Texas Station Casino”. I arrived 10 minutes early for my appointment but waited in a double lane of cars for half an hour for my turn. The entire process was completed in the safety of my own car with no human contact. As I studied the colorful signs for the casino while waiting in line, I wondered why they selected this spot for testing the scary virus. The casino was probably closed now due to the virus. Apparently, hundreds of people were given the same appointment time as me. The hospital employees were dressed in official orange uniforms with plastic face masks. There was no contact with germs. I had to put my driver’s license on the dashboard while they found my name on their list. Then I drove through a maze of orange cones into the parking structure. I could see socially distant tables set up in the garage. I had plenty of time to read all the signs advertising the casino restaurants, bars, and gambling spots while I waited in line. 

Finally, it was my turn. An employee placed a plastic bag with a labeled test kit under my windshield wiper. Then I drove into the parking lot and stopped at one of the tables. A nurse in a hazmat suit with a plastic face shield came over to my car window. She double-checked my driver's license and kit label to my name and face. Then she motioned me to roll down my window. I was expecting the nose swab that my husband told me about. No, she told me it would be a throat swab. Ugh! She must have seen the fear in my eyes and smiled. “Open wide!” Then she spent way too long scraping as I gagged. She smiled finally and said I was done. I drove away coughing as I followed the exit arrows out into the sunshine. 

How and when would I get my results? She never told me and there weren’t signs anywhere. As I drove out, I saw some employees sitting at an official table in uniforms. I rolled down my window and shouted, “How do I get my test results?” They yelled back, “You will get an email in three days.” Hmmm...well, I guess I can wait. My sore throat is gone now and I’m feeling healthy. Then I wondered how many people will test positive for the disease today in line with me. I hope we all have negative results and continue to do our best to keep healthy during this unusual time in history. I hope to return to this casino in the future and remember this day sitting in my hot car getting tested during a worldwide pandemic. Stay healthy and wash your hands.