on the one hand, it's probably not actually a good idea to have a long line of hypochondriacs congregate amongst a handful of people that actually do have the virus, given that it is highly contagious over the air, as that's where they're going to actually get it - except that they'll test negative for it, and then go out and spread it. really.
so, the way this will work is like this:
1) 38 year-old hypochondriac who is allergic to ragweed decides she must have the virus.
2) she goes to the testing centre.
3) while she wears a mask at the testing centre, it hardly matters. she is, for the first time, actually exposed to the virus, there.
4) but, she tests negative because it's before the incubation period.
5) as she's too young to even be affected by it, she doesn't develop symptoms and doesn't know she has it.
6) confident she doesn't have it, because she just tested negative for it, she spreads it all over the place.
making it appointment only is a good idea, in that sense, as it will get rid of those lines of people that don't have it....until they go to the testing centre, and catch it there.
rather, i would behoove you to not stand in these lines unless you're sure you were exposed. it's a great way to get sick! just as communicating with greeters, or touching "sanitation centres", when you walk into a store is.
again: you have to wonder...
however, that's probably not why this government is doing this - this government is probably just trying to prevent too many cases from being published all at once.
and, that is silly - while the lines are a bad idea (why don't they open drive-thrus?), they need to get the testing moving more quickly, not slow it down.