‘Anyone who wants a test should have one’
COVID-positive woman whose brother died from virus makes impassioned plea
A Delaware County woman who has tested positive for coronavirus after her brother died of it last week is expressing her concerns that COVID-19 testing isn’t adequate.
Her 63-year-old brother had lived in group homes for decades due to a mental health diagnosis and was receiving dialysis at a center three times a week for the past two and a half years due to a decline in his health.
“As of (Monday), I spoke to someone at the center where he dialyzed,”said the woman, who did not want to be identified in this story. “Nobody had been tested. There’s not enough tests in Pennsylvania. There’s not enough tests, period.”
Public officials are aware that sentiment.
State officials explained that testing is reserved for those showing symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, fever and diarrhea. Among those showing symptoms, testing is given priority to those who are 60 years old or older, those with underlying health issues such as kidney disease, healthcare workers, front line responders or those who live in congregate care settings, such as group homes.
Nate Wardle, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, added, “Overall, Pennsylvania has the ability to test individuals who are symptomatic and need testing. However, that ability is reliant on our lab and the other labs in the state having the necessary resources to test and also the swabs and medium being available after a specimen is taken. A lot of these materials are coming from the federal government or through companies contracting with the government, and we need those items to be able to maintain our capacity to test.”
In addition to the supply chain issue, the virus itself can create testing problems. A person can test negative, then get symptoms three days later and potentially then test positive.
With these factors, health officials have to be discerning with testing so they can collect consistent data to understand this novel virus.
While the Chester County Health Department is handling treatment of coronavirus for Delaware County citizens, Delaware County Council members said they care about residents’ thoughts and issues.
“We are keenly aware of people’s concerns about testing,” Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther said, adding that Delco officials are on a call every day with the commissioners of neighboring counties and the Philadelphia mayor and his staff. “The testing comes up every day.”
She added that the county officials have also been hearing about these concerns from first responders and those whose work environments expose them to potential COVID-19 and those who are medically fragile.
Reuther said she anticipates that more information will be made available regarding testing and its prioritization but that stay-at-home measures in any event remain absolutely crucial.
The Delaware County woman whose brother died last week hopes to prevent anyone from her family’s experience.
“I’ve always been an advocate for my brother,” she said. “At this point, I’m advocating for those folks who are going to die if they don’t get tested.”
Her brother had been in and out of the hospital since the beginning of January with pneumonia, she explained.
“His health has been bad,” the sister said. “He’s been declining for months. I have been expecting a call from his group home. I got a call (last) Tuesday morning that he was being taken by ambulance. He ended up in the ICU. His doctor did not think he had coronavirus. I got called that night. He had died.
“On Thursday, I received a call from a hospital representative telling me that he had indeed tested positive,” she said.
The 68-year-old woman said her symptoms began to present on March 13.
“I had the chills at night,” she said. “I went up to bed. I couldn’t get warm. I stay in bed the next day and most of the next day. I had a headache ... I was very lethargic. I was sort of getting frustrated with myself. I was just laying around and sleeping like 10 hours a day. I definitely had a cough.”
After her brother died, she called her physician, who ordered she get tested due to her symptoms. On Sunday, her test came
back positive.
“This thing is insidious,” she said. “I don’t know if I got it from my brother or if I gave it to him.”
With regards to her 69-yearold husband, she said, “They’re assuming that he’s got it as well but they will not test him because his symptoms don’t match (federal) guidelines.”
She wondered how many have the virus and are not being counted.
“(My husband) won’t be counted as one of those who has
COVID-19,” she said. “You take that number that they’re saying and quintuplet it, at least. I think a lot of people are walking around with this and are unaware of it. I never thought to get tested if my brother didn’t have it.”
And she’s confused about the length of quarantine. She said one doctor told her the 14-day period started when her symptoms be
gan to show on March 13. Another in the same practice said the 14-day period began when she got tested.
She said she’s thankful that her husband, who’s lethargic and coughing, appear to be recovering.
“The good news is even though we’re both in the high risk group, we’re going to be OK,” she said.
The Delco resident said she wished more could be done for the community.
“While I appreciate what Gov. Wolf is doing, it is unconscionable that there is not an adequate supply of tests in Pennsylvania,” she said. “We are in the midst of a pandemic. Anyone who wants a test should have one.”