COVID-19 testing must be a priority

The first priority of any elected Government is the protection and welfare of its citizens.

COVID-19 has spread its spectral wings over T&T and the Government has put in place new regulations designed to “flatten the curve” of the disease.

This, however, is only one half of the equation and they have fallen woefully short in the other half—testing and its corollary contact tracing.

As it stands, no matter what your ailment is, no doctor will see you unless you have had a COVID-19 test, yet when you present yourself for a test at a government facility, you are rejected if you are not showing symptoms of the virus.

I am not being hyperbolic when I say that this is deadly bureaucratic stupidity, as asymptomatic people can still be infected and spread the disease.

Since your ailment is serious and you must have the test, you go to one of the private health facilities, only to find the charges for a test are prohibitive.

These people are making a killing off the fear and suffering of the people and it should not be allowed.

Government has to up its game so every citizen who wants a test can get one. In the mean time put a ceiling on the cost of a test by these private enterprises.