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Coronavirus (Stay on Topic)

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And this is exactly why we need to kick China to the curb for manufacturing and diversify/bring it home, especially for critical medicines.

 
Let's hope more people like this step up to help those who have temporarily lost their jobs due to all of this.

 
Not a bad assessment. I think this is why you saw SK start drive through test centers. Avoiding crowded drs offices awaiting testing is a smart move.
Having gone through getting the H1N1 in 2010, they tested us in Afghanistan only when we got a fever. Im not sure of what they convey to the public with this outbreak (its just too much for me to keep up with) but people should go get tested when they get a fever.....A cough could be a hundred things especially in the spring
 
Still baffled by the lack of widespread testing. Is it a head in the sand stance by govt hedging that if there arent high "official" numbers they can keep panic down?
I think it's a combination of things, including regulations at all levels which is crazy. For instance yesterday, not sure may have been the Secretary of DHHS, anyway announced they were relaxing the criteria for testing to make it easier for more get the test. So that initially was a road block. Also these test aren't a simple, dip a stick turns blue your positive type of thing and part of the problem also was not getting enough of the extraction "tools" to separate the virus from the sample to accurately test. Some of that was due to a "bad batch" initially, my understanding anyway... but couple that with Federal regulations, state regulations, local SOP's etc and something we've never dealt with before and oh it's only 3-4 months old. I just don't think there is a simple answer
 
I think it's a combination of things, including regulations at all levels which is crazy. For instance yesterday, not sure may have been the Secretary of DHHS, anyway announced they were relaxing the criteria for testing to make it easier for more get the test. So that initially was a road block. Also these test aren't a simple, dip a stick turns blue your positive type of thing and part of the problem also was not getting enough of the extraction "tools" to separate the virus from the sample to accurately test. Some of that was due to a "bad batch" initially, my understanding anyway... but couple that with Federal regulations, state regulations, local SOP's etc and something we've never dealt with before and oh it's only 3-4 months old. I just don't think there is a simple answer

meh other countries have thousands of test kits they administer daily.....find it hard to believe they can do that and we cant....
 
meh other countries have thousands of test kits they administer daily.....find it hard to believe they can do that and we cant....
Meh nothing I say will ever sit well with you.... it's just an opinion and an observation. We aren't cookie cutter countries, we're not them, they're not us, some times that's good, some times that bad. We know, we should've been testing more
 
Speaking of testing: Anybody know how this works, if you test positive for the flu does that rule out COVID-19 or do they still have to test for that?
 
Second confirmed case of Flu A in our home. Our third child was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this week. I’m growing more weary by the day here.
Sorry to hear that, hope all are well soon!
 
They are still a week to 10 days away from being able to correct this issue.

Unfortunately containment was a lost cause. If these studies are correct a large number of cases are spreading before symptoms appear. Testing is good to isolate those sick but I'm afraid even then the damage has already bee done. They've already infected several other people.

 
So right now SK, which is doing probably the most extensive testing, has only 7,979 cases and 71 deaths. This is a death rate of .9% which is probably a more accurate death rate for this virus. It seems the overall rate of spread there peaked in late February to early March and has since slowed down dramatically. An article written about their approach shows why what they are doing would never work in the US, at least with the current laws we have in place.

"South Korea is also enforcing a law that grants the government wide authority to access data: CCTV footage, GPS tracking data from phones and cars, credit card transactions, immigration entry information, and other personal details of people confirmed to have an infectious disease.

The authorities can then make some of this public, so anyone who may have been exposed can get themselves - or their friends and family members - tested.

In addition to helping work out who to test, South Korea's data-driven systems help hospitals manage their pipeline of cases.

People found positive are placed in self-quarantine and monitored remotely through an app or checked regularly in telephone calls until a hospital bed becomes available. When this occurs, an ambulance picks the person up and takes them to a hospital with air-sealed isolation rooms.

This approach comes at the cost of some privacy. South Korea's system is an intrusive mandatory measure that depends on people surrendering what, for many in Europe and the US, would be a fundamental right of privacy." Source
 
Unfortunately containment was a lost cause. If these studies are correct a large number of cases are spreading before symptoms appear. Testing is good to isolate those sick but I'm afraid even then the damage has already bee done. They've already infected several other people.


That is the exact opposite of what the WHO has said and also our medical leaders. Even in the article you posted states this:

The new study suggests that measures like social distancing are required to control this pandemic. That means cancelling large public events like concerts, sports games, and festivals, as well as limiting the use of public transportation and asking employees to work from home.
 
So right now SK, which is doing probably the most extensive testing, has only 7,979 cases and 71 deaths. This is a death rate of .9% which is probably a more accurate death rate for this virus. It seems the overall rate of spread there peaked in late February to early March and has since slowed down dramatically. An article written about their approach shows why what they are doing would never work in the US, at least with the current laws we have in place.

"South Korea is also enforcing a law that grants the government wide authority to access data: CCTV footage, GPS tracking data from phones and cars, credit card transactions, immigration entry information, and other personal details of people confirmed to have an infectious disease.

The authorities can then make some of this public, so anyone who may have been exposed can get themselves - or their friends and family members - tested.

In addition to helping work out who to test, South Korea's data-driven systems help hospitals manage their pipeline of cases.

People found positive are placed in self-quarantine and monitored remotely through an app or checked regularly in telephone calls until a hospital bed becomes available. When this occurs, an ambulance picks the person up and takes them to a hospital with air-sealed isolation rooms.

This approach comes at the cost of some privacy. South Korea's system is an intrusive mandatory measure that depends on people surrendering what, for many in Europe and the US, would be a fundamental right of privacy." Source

In contrast, Italy has more than 12,000 confirmed cases after carrying out more than 73,000 tests on an unspecified number of people.
 
That is the exact opposite of what the WHO has said and also our medical leaders. Even in the article you posted states this:

The new study suggests that measures like social distancing are required to control this pandemic. That means cancelling large public events like concerts, sports games, and festivals, as well as limiting the use of public transportation and asking employees to work from home.

Sure that would have worked 6 weeks ago. Even then as contagious as this is it only takes a handful of people to ignore those protocols to see widespread transmission if it's as contagious as they say. Theres another article out this morning saying the virus also spreads through numerous avenues including aerosolized transmission and living on surfaces for up to 3 to 9 days. Fecal, blood, sputum, nasal and throat testing all show high viral shedding.
 
In contrast, Italy has more than 12,000 confirmed cases after carrying out more than 73,000 tests on an unspecified number of people.

Yes, the full context of the article explains the difference in the approach by Italy vs SK. The difference is Italy is no longer doing extensive testing or the type of aggressive tracking of those who test positive like SK is doing.

"Italy started out testing widely, then narrowed the focus so that now, authorities do not have to process hundreds of thousands of tests. But there's a trade-off: They can't see what's coming and are trying to curb the movements of the country's entire population of 60 million people to contain the disease.

In South Korea, authorities are testing hundreds of thousands of people for infections and tracking potential carriers like detectives, using mobile phone and satellite technology.

Both countries saw their first cases of the disease called COVID-19 in late January.

South Korea has since reported nearly 8,000 confirmed cases, after testing more than 222,000 people.

In contrast, Italy has more than 12,000 confirmed cases after carrying out more than 73,000 tests on an unspecified number of people."
 
Seems to be many reasons. Fact and opinion. I have read about all the red tape regarding test. I have also heard part of it is supplies like cotton swabs and what not that are of course made in China.

Now for my opinion. As I look around me and see the shear panic unfolding, I cant imagine what having widespread access to testing is going to do. As soon as Karen's allergies start flaring up she's gonna go nuts thinking she has corona, run up to medi fast to get that test with dozens of other people, the doc will test her, find out its just allergies, Karen will actually get infected in the waiting room and go about her daily life thinking its just allergies as she infects her family. Not saying testing is a bad thing but lets gain some perspective. If someone gets it the doc is going to treat the symptoms whether you are tested or not. At this point people should treat anything they have as corona and stay away from other people. Just my 2 cents


I'm supposed to visit someone today, and they called me last night saying they needed to self isolate. I asked why, even tho I had a good idea of why. Now this person lives 150 miles from the closest case, hasn't left the county they live in, and no one she's been in contact with is ill...

She had a cough and a mild fever, and now she thinks she's got Corona. Like, you realize the FLU and COLD are still a thing. And this then leads to news articles and tweets saying "I was refused Corona test and I have a cough!!"
 
So right now SK, which is doing probably the most extensive testing, has only 7,979 cases and 71 deaths. This is a death rate of .9% which is probably a more accurate death rate for this virus. It seems the overall rate of spread there peaked in late February to early March and has since slowed down dramatically. An article written about their approach shows why what they are doing would never work in the US, at least with the current laws we have in place.

"South Korea is also enforcing a law that grants the government wide authority to access data: CCTV footage, GPS tracking data from phones and cars, credit card transactions, immigration entry information, and other personal details of people confirmed to have an infectious disease.

The authorities can then make some of this public, so anyone who may have been exposed can get themselves - or their friends and family members - tested.

In addition to helping work out who to test, South Korea's data-driven systems help hospitals manage their pipeline of cases.

People found positive are placed in self-quarantine and monitored remotely through an app or checked regularly in telephone calls until a hospital bed becomes available. When this occurs, an ambulance picks the person up and takes them to a hospital with air-sealed isolation rooms.

This approach comes at the cost of some privacy. South Korea's system is an intrusive mandatory measure that depends on people surrendering what, for many in Europe and the US, would be a fundamental right of privacy." Source

Most estimates say 70-150 million Americans will get this virus over the next 12-18 months, so figure 120 million, whats .9% of 120 million, heck what is .5% of 120 million........lots and lots of testing and self quarantine plus shutting down schools, sports, entertainment etc will help save lives.
 
Speaking of testing: Anybody know how this works, if you test positive for the flu does that rule out COVID-19 or do they still have to test for that?
Depends on the country, I think. I've read both. I think the lean is that if you test positive for the flu, then you are assumed to have the flu and that's that.
 
Sure that would have worked 6 weeks ago. Even then as contagious as this is it only takes a handful of people to ignore those protocols to see widespread transmission if it's as contagious as they say. Theres another article out this morning saying the virus also spreads through numerous avenues including aerosolized transmission and living on surfaces for up to 3 to 9 days. Fecal, blood, sputum, nasal and throat testing all show high viral shedding.
I agree that it's too late to contain. But the game now is to slow it down. Doing stuff like the SK stuff mentioned above would greatly help. Unfortunately, we aren't set up to do stuff like that very efficiently here.

The US is very much like a third world country when it comes to disaster response, with the exception of having better resources. Problem is, we can't ever deploy those resources properly and timely across a wide area. Corruption in leadership/politics, the behemoth political process and administrative red tape, privacy laws, the lack of understanding from the people and willingness to comply, and the division amongst the population all create an environment ripe for catastrophe. It's easy to see this coming.

There is zero excuse for being one of the worst countries in the world at being able to test for this. You can argue that it's unnecessary because it just aint that bad, if you want to. That's a legitimate discussion. But from a technical standpoint, there is no reason for our lack of ability to test, other than the absurd.
 
You act like you know it won't save lives today. That's a pretty powerful and presumptive statement. I'll take my cues from people like Dr Fauci.

Yeah that was not what i meant. I meant to stop the spread earlier. We can still slow it down with testing but the ship has sailed on containment through large quarantines. It will be in every state soon.
 
Time to play hardball with China again on tariffs...US needs to show the world who's in charge

 
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