Corona Virus #6

[California]

I keep hearing all the talk about lack of testing and lack of test kits and can't understand why that's being made into such a big issue. There's no specific treatment for Covid-19, so why does it matter if it's specifically diagnosed?

The locations mostly in China that halted their upward trend used massive testing then forced isolation of anyone positive. Also extensive tracing of who that person interacted with, and quarantining them too. Because of the huge multiplier effect one contagious person can cause.

For example Guangdong, the huge industrial city next to Hong Kong, did this and it seems to have halted the spread in that huge city - China's third largest. Sending out the military to enforce peoples quarantines wouldn't go over well in the US but Guangdong's example emphasizes why our voluntary social isolation - hopefully with similar results - is the best preventive measure here.

Maybe if we get to the point of accurate testing and similar quarantine then the rest of us can resume normal life.

 

[DarkBlack]

Days are getting longer. About time to start worrying about Lyme disease.

 

[MossRoad]

I became a grandparent this afternoon! My son and wife delivered a little girl in Bend Oregon. We are debating on whether to make the drive and visit and practice SDS (Safe Distance Strategies) as soon as they are discharged. No one other than my son allowed in the hospital. What a glorious day and a great feeling that rushed over me today! Between my wife and I this makes 4 granddaughters. Still waiting for a boy.

Congrats! :thumbsup:

 

[5030]

The locations mostly in China that halted their upward trend used massive testing then forced isolation of anyone positive. Also extensive tracing of who that person interacted with, and quarantining them too. Because of the huge multiplier effect one contagious person can cause.

For example Guangdong, the huge industrial city next to Hong Kong, did this and it seems to have halted the spread in that huge city - China's third largest. Sending out the military to enforce peoples quarantines wouldn't go over well in the US but Guangdong's example emphasizes why our voluntary social isolation - hopefully with similar results - is the best preventive measure here.

Maybe if we get to the point of accurate testing and similar quarantine then the rest of us can resume normal life.

I think you need to reword that to 'somewhat normal. Until a vaccine is developed and instituted on a country wide scale, you can get reinfected so normal will be abnormal until that time.

 

[3930dave]

Maybe I'll clarify my original post. I understand and agree with testing for the reasons you describe, but just like a survey, you test a representative sample to understand the bigger picture. It doesn't require the testing of every possible patient. It's getting played up that because there aren't enough test kits for every possible patient, it's somehow some epic failure to the outbreak response.

Better Data.

One specialist compared it to looking at a pixelated digital picture. His estimate is that we are looking at a picture with only about 30% of the data there. (That might be optimistic, IMO).

More test kits and lab capacity are needed both sides of our border, but there are even more fundamental shortages in some areas. I went to get tested at a dedicated CV19 test centre here Tuesday, before returning to work. As I suspected, I had just come down with a minor head-cold, but wanted that confirmed.

Physician's assessment was complete and thorough, but he ended with inviting me to write the govt here. He was not impressed by the lack of test kits, and commented "You're wearing a better mask than the ones we are given". What I had bought was not hazmat headgear, but rather just a mid-level 3M N95.

More test kits/capacity are needed, and no medical workers should have to struggle getting access to PPE. They have enough to deal with under normal conditions....... and we won't be back there for quite a while....

Rgds, D.

 

[California]

Reading elsewhere I found a description of how Singapore and Taiwan are preserving mostly normal life for the majority while jumping hard on those suspected contagious.

One example is they have the capability to combine their airline reservations and national health insurance databases, to identify high-risk travelers for testing and quarantine. Another example, a testing station at a mall entrance, apparently measuring forehead temperature.

Their intensive solutions aren't a good fit for here. But for them, the life of the majority isn't as disrupted as our lockdown. Hopefully there are some examples that would be helpful here.

How Taiwan and Singapore managed to contain COVID-19, while letting normal life go on | National Post

 

[Jstpssng]

I think you need to reword that to 'somewhat normal. Until a vaccine is developed and instituted on a country wide scale, you can get reinfected so normal will be abnormal until that time.

When this started coming to light "they" were saying that within a year nearly everybody will have been exposed, and our bodies will have started creating antibodies to combat the virus. Allegedly that's the big difference between CV-19 & the flu.

 

[sd455dan]

couldn't Help but notice the Claim in the article
Evidence over hysteria — COVID-19 - Six Four Six Nine - Medium


that Italy may have turned the corner and quoted deaths at
the as of March 20 article says 1625
World meter as of this posting 4825



by Turning the Corner do they mean heading into the Peak...

in actuality the increase was 793


this quote above the article is real confidence inspiring

Anyone can publish on Medium per our Policies, but we don稚 fact-check every story.

 

[ovrszd]

Days are getting longer. About time to start worrying about Lyme disease.

After all it goes best with Corona Virus.

 

[k0ua]

I am also wondering why we are not trying to sterilize N95 masks? Instead of throwing away after each patient encounter can we throw away the mask at the end of the shift? can we spray some disenfectant on the mask after each encounter? Or maybe UV light exposure for a few seconds? Would this help the shortage?