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There are several types of coronavirus tests on the market to identify contagion at different stages, which can be accessed through health insurance, non-profit organizations, or single payments.
Since the day Coronavirus became the main topic on the global agenda, there have been multiple questions that have gripped the inhabitants of hundreds of countries, but it is undoubtedly one of the main ones, coronavirus tests and with them, the different types and the ease or difficulty of access to these by different communities.
Specifically in the United States, approximately 5 million coronavirus tests have been conducted, which has made it possible to identify to date more than 1 million 225 thousand cases of contagion, making it in addition to the epicenter of the pandemic, the country that conducts the largest number of tests for disease detection worldwide.
Timely detection of Covid-19 coronavirus infection, is the most important strategy for controlling, containing, and mitigating the pandemic, since in addition to identifying infected people and preventing contact with others, it allows for tracking the evolution, intensity, and mortality of the virus.
Thus, there are different types of tests on the market to identify the virus, PCR or polymerase chain reaction and 2 rapid tests for the detection of antibodies and antigens, which will determine whether you are infected with the virus or whether you were infected in the past and have generated antibodies that make you immune to the disease symptoms.
In countries like Iceland, the government allocated resources so that all nationals could access the coronavirus test for free, but in the United States as in many other countries in the Americas, the conditions are different.
Initially, it was indicated that people who considered they should take a Covid-19 test had to have a medical order for that purpose; later, 3 groups of people were identified who should request a test: those people with respiratory symptoms who have had contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient; those people with respiratory symptoms who have traveled to areas affected by the epidemic in the last 14 days; and patients with fever and acute respiratory symptoms who have not found another diagnosis.
Currently the landscape has changed a bit, but questions continue to arise especially for the vulnerable population. A citizen can easily access the detection test through their health insurance, simply by contacting care centers and requesting an appointment.
How can an undocumented person access coronavirus tests?
Given that the pandemic has become a public health issue in the country, one could expect that a citizen or resident without insurance and even an immigrant could access tests at private clinics or hospitals at affordable rates for all, but it is well known that for this last group of people, their immigration status represents an additional barrier when it comes to enforcing their rights.
The fear of being prosecuted or identified and subsequently deported constitutes the main limitation when seeking medical help, not only during the coronavirus crisis but in general; approximately 34% of pandemic fatalities in New York belonged to the Hispanic community, so it would not be wrong to assume that a large percentage of these did not seek the necessary help for fear of being detained by immigration.At Conexión Legal we offer free advice with immigration lawyers; contact us through this channel via the WhatsApp icon or by Scheduling Your Consultation and explore solution alternatives for your case.In this regard, we have mentioned on several occasions that USCIS invites all people who are in the national territory, regardless of their status, to seek medical advice in cases where they believe may be related to the pandemic, since the government has suspended deportations and operations that result in detention of immigrants, and also does not consider care and treatment received for covid-19 as a factor of inadmissibility due to public charge. That is, during the crisis we are facing, health is prioritized over migration processes.
There are non-profit organizations in the country whose mission is to provide medical care to the vulnerable population, but remember that if you cannot access these, the public clinics and hospitals in the state where you are located must guarantee your access to healthcare.
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