Hunting for COVID-19 tests keeps people waiting for hours, some quit their jobs empty-handed – CBS Baltimore

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) – The hunt for COVID-19 tests is leaving Marylanders scrambling amid a COVID spike, fueled by the highly contagious variant of Omicron.

With Christmas coming and going, OneAnd with New Year’s Eve just a few days away, it seems everyone is eager to pick their noses after seeing their family and before attending the next gathering they should decide to attend.

On Wednesday, Maryland passes 2,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time during the pandemic, up from the previous peak of 1,952 set in January 2020. The Maryland Hospital Association on Wednesday asked Governor Larry Hogan to restore a limited public health emergency.

Of those currently hospitalized, 1,657 are adults in adult care and 367 are adults in intensive care. There are 15 children in acute care and another 7 in the ICU.

Record stats are causing people to queue up for quick test giveaways, in the hope of being able to complete one test before it runs out.

#UPDATE: free #covid test giveaway- 800 tests finished in minutes, only 100 tests left at this point and people are waiting outside in the rain hoping they can still get one these This person from the City of Baltimore said they couldn’t find a check anywhere else @wjz pic.twitter.com/PyyZQO5FaP

– Annie Rose Ramos (@AnnieRoseNews) December 29, 2021

The Eastport Fire Station in Annapolis held a test giveaway Wednesday night, and people waited for hours to get their hands on two precious boxes.

The station had 400 tests for a driver’s license pick-up and 400 for people queuing outside. Hundreds of people from across the region showed up.

“This is exactly what we expected, we are prepared for this,” said Nicole Reibert of the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management. “We had a lot of planning meetings ahead of time to make sure that everyone we could take the test could take the test.”

But by the end of the night, the 75 people waiting in line outside had to turn away, and the cars that were three blocks deep were also turned away. Some of them waited as long as five hours.

“I get up around 2:15, read, go for a walk, and bring snacks,” said Arlene Grimes, a driver from Howard County. “MotherHis daughter drove for about three hours on Monday before finding a test. “

She said she wasn’t surprised to see the crowd.

“I think it’s just a need. Everyone is in the same boat after the holiday, they either want to be tested or they need to be tested.”

On December 22, President Joe Biden announced the government would implement 500 million quick home tests available for free for Americans. but it’s not clear how long the tests will arrive at their doorsteps.