Editorial: A call for more COVID-19 testing
We are inching closer to the two-year mark of this pandemic and we see daily the importance of the government's responsibility to the American people.
Quite frankly, our elected officials have dropped the ball - especially on testing.
Right now -- access to COVID-19 testing is at its worst, worse even than it was in 2020 when tests were first developed -- because of the significant increase in demand.
Over the last month -- we've seen people scrambling -- desperate for testing, sitting in hours-long drive thru lines.
And county health departments are out of at-home tests.
Perhaps most frustrating is this demand could be foreseen.
Health experts urged people to get tested before gathering for the holidays, even as tests ran short and sites were overwhelmed.
How can the people pushing this public health policy -- fail to make sure we are able to follow it?
Federal, state and local governments have done an admirable job in developing, distributing and promoting the vaccine.
But testing will always play a huge role in stopping the spread of the virus.
So what do we do?
We take control of our own actions.
Stay vigilant in masking and social distancing.
But we also hold accountable state and local agencies and call for more aggressive and decisive action in buying tests and opening testing sites.
President Ronald Reagan said the most terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."
The American people have looked to our elected officials to help us get out of this pandemic.
Those officials, especially at the state and local level - have a responsibility to see to it that we change president Reagan's words from a punch line to a rallying cry.