What it’s like to get tested for COVID when you have symptoms

After logging into my USU Student Health Services account, I drew in a sharp breath.

The site was prompting me to confirm my appointment for my COVID-19 test.

And I was so nervous.

I had already scheduled, canceled and rescheduled several appointments because I genuinely didn’t want to do this.

I had heard several horror stories about how painful the test was. Plus, there is so much fear surrounding the COVID pandemic, going anywhere near a COVID testing site seemed unconscionable.

However, I had been feeling ill, and I work a job that requires me to come into contact with dozens of people every day. I felt like I owed it to my co-workers and patrons to at least find out if I could be contagious.

After signing a lengthy disclosure, which stated that I agreed to have any results turned over to public health authorities, I downloaded my QR code and took a deep breath. I didn’t have to worry about the test yet.

At least, not for another 24 hours.

On the day of my appointment, I found the testing center on the east side of Maverik Stadium. I drove around a curve and was greeted by a cluster of nurses in hazmat suits; many were standing in or next to large canvas tents. Not foreboding at all.

I pulled into the drive-thru lane and got my phone out. Despite it being a perfectly sunny day, there were not many people there to get tested in the middle of the afternoon.

However, the nurse I spoke with when I drove up said they already had 70 appointments that day, and that was actually a low number for their daily count.

I held up my phone so they could scan my QR code. Then they handed me my test kit.

The nurse at the station was separated from me by a guardrail. She leaned over briefly and quickly to hand me the kit. She then instructed me to place the swab one inch inside my nostril.

After being relieved that she wasn’t going to do it for me, I proceeded to jam the stick way too far up my nose.

I had to laugh; I had been so afraid of the nurses hurting me with the swab, and I ended up hurting myself.

After putting the swab correctly into the second nostril, I sealed the bag and handed it back to the nurse.

After driving by another tent to confirm my name and contact information, I was finished. The entire process took less than two minutes.

Nursing student Brayden Frankie was working at the testing center that day and said many of the nurses helping out are first and second year nursing students.

“About five of us come out each time,” Frankie said. “After we get all the equipment set up, we’ll instruct the students and staff members how to do it themselves.”

According to Frankie, all tests are sent up to campus, unless it’s a rapid test for someone that is highly symptomatic. This means they’ve had multiple COVID symptoms for several days in a row.

Frankie also said they were hoping to up the number of students tested daily.

“They were even talking about trying to test up to 300 a day,” he said. “It would be awesome for students that need it.”

Frankie said the university has been excellent when it comes to the safety of their nursing students.

“They’ve made it very clear, if we are worried about symptoms or anything, we can get tested,” he said. “They also provide plenty of protective equipment.”

Frankie added that everyone who came through to get their tests had been very patient. He said he hadn’t had a negative experience yet.

After talking to Frankie and the other nurses, there was nothing else to do but wait for my results to come back.

About 24 hours after my test, I checked my email for notifications. I got my test results back. 

Negative for COVID.

The whole ordeal, which wasn’t that much of an ordeal after all, was over.

 *Since I took my test, USU has opened up another testing center for asymptomatic students in the Taggart Student Center on campus. Students can set up an appointment through USU’s Student Health Services.

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