Limit cost of covid19 test

THE EDITOR: The first priority of any elected government is the protection and welfare of its citizens.

Covid19 has spread its spectral wings over TT and the Government has put in place new regulations designed to "flatten the curve" of the disease. This, however, is only half of the equation and it has fallen woefully short in the other half – testing and its corollary contact tracing.

As it stands, no matter what your ailment, no doctor will see you unless you have had a covid19 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 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 health facilities, only to find the charges for a test are prohibitive – St Clair Medical $1,650; Westshore, $1,000; St Augustine Associates, $1,100

These people are making a killing off the fear and suffering of citizens and it should not be allowed. The Government has to up its game so that every citizen who wants a test can get one. In the meantime it must put a ceiling on the cost of a test by private enterprises.

C STOUTE

Cascade