Remember Trump's Promise Of Drive-Through Testing Locations Across the US? He Hopes You Remember The Promise (But Not What Has Happened In The Three Weeks Since Then)

On March 13, 2020, Donald Trump announced a bold plan to "dramatically increase the availability of [Covid-19] tests".

Trump said his administration was teaming up with "the biggest business people, the greatest retailers anywhere ... celebrities in their own right"

to make drive-thru tests available in the critical locations identified by public health professionals. The goal is for individuals to be able to drive up and be swabbed without having to leave your car. ...

Doug McMillon (President and Chief Executive Officer of Walmart Inc.): When we got the call yesterday from the White House, we were eager to do our part to help serve the country. ... [W]e've been asked to make portions of our parking lot available in select locations in the beginning ... so that people can experience the drive-thru experience that the President described. ...

Richard Ashworth (President of Walgreens): [A] lot of times, when we have natural disasters, our stores are a beacon in the community ... So we look forward to partnering with the CDC, the administration, HHS, and the task force ... We're ready to engage and help. ...

Mike Pence (Denier of Facts, Believer in Nonsense, Professional Ass-Kisser): Mr. President, I know I join you in saying that every American should be proud of this incredible public-private partnership that's going to speeding access of testing to millions of Americans in the weeks ahead.

Drive-through testing centers in the parking lots of the country's biggest stores where people can be tested "very safely, quickly and conveniently". It sounded great.

On Friday (tomorrow), it will have been three weeks since this announcement. Trump's grand idea remains a complete fantasy. I mean, when has Walmart ever done anything for anyone other than its stockholders?

Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and CVS have a combined 26,400 stores in the US. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that there are only five drive-through testing locations in the United States. None are open to the general public.

Walmart opened two drive-through testing locations near Chicago last week. It can administer up to 150 tests per day at each location,m  but only first responders and health care workers with coronavirus symptoms can be tested.

CVS has one drive-thru location in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. It can handle about 200 tests a day.

Walgreens has opened one site.

Target has zero sites. It says it is still waiting for instructions from local and state officials.

Rite Aid opened one drive-through facility in Philadelphia, but it is also limited to first responders and health care workers.

FEMA says there are 28 federal community-based testing sites that have screened more than 34,400 individuals. But, again, these sites are also only for first responders and health care employees.

The general public, as usual, is out of luck.

CNN reported that a senior administration official said the initial ambitions had to be scaled back because of the lack of tests nationwide.

It's a familiar sight: A group of Fortune 500 CEOs, representing companies with a combined net income of $20 billion, acted like Florence Nightingale three weeks ago, promising to act selflessly during this crisis. Yet, they have responded exactly as they have when it comes to paying taxes. They mouth a few cliches and platitudes when the cameras are on, and then do nothing.