California scrambles to meet increased Covid testing demand as cases surge

Number of patients seeking tests in the state has more than doubled from a month ago, fueled by the Delta variant

Medical providers and pharmacies in the California Bay Area are scrambling to keep up with the newly-increased demand for Covid-19 testing, as cases of the virus surge fueled by the highly-contagious Delta variant.

At one CVS pharmacy in Richmond on Tuesday, a sign taped to the front door announced Rapid Covid tests temporarily sold out". At a hospital in the city where the drive-thru Covid testing site had recently been taken down, a line of walk-in patients seeking tests stretched down the block in front of the hospital. And in San Francisco last week, the old scene of lines of cars with passengers inside waiting to be tested was back at the city's drive through test site.