The recommendation now is only to test if the result would significantly change the course of treatment.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/health/us-coronavirus-wrap-sunday/index.html

I don't understand this recommendation. A significant number of people are asymtomatic or very mild flu-like symtoms. Yet they are just as contagious as those with more severe conditions. We are not going to get this level this curve unless there are significant testings and quarantine those who are carriers.

Since our testing capabilities are severely lacking, it makes sense to limit what we do have for the cases that need to be confirmed for treatment.

Everyone else needs to take responsibility and social distance properly. However, I'm not really seeing our leaders tell people how to do that, nor do I have a lot of faith that many of our fellow citizens understand that avoiding crowded restaurants, grocery stores, etc is the point. Lots of people seem to think it's an extended Labor Day weekend cookout

Once we have more tests, obviously, we need to test aggressively

AustinAg2K said:

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Basically, everyone should assume they have it right now and socially distance themselves. Don't wait for a test result.

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In theory yes. In reality, people are not going into self-quarantine unless they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Yeah, this isn't a "we don't think everyone getting tested will really help", it's a "we don't have the capacity to test all the people who think (or likely do) have it, so just assume you have it".

Testing is about to severely ramp up. The test kit makers will be producing millions per week.

Houston has 1 site that opened today, you have to go through a phone screen before driving up. They will open 3 more shortly as the kits become available. It's a fluid situation.

Observer said:

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AustinAg2K said:

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Basically, everyone should assume they have it right now and socially distance themselves. Don't wait for a test result.

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In theory yes. In reality, people are not going into self-quarantine unless they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

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Because there have been no clear instructions to do so.

Which is why we'll inevitably be in a "shelter-in-place".

I think if a week or so ago we weren't still playing around with elbow-bumping and "sure if you feel fine you can go out to the bar" then it would be different. Instructions should have been very clear to assume you and everyone around you has it.

People going to get a test cause more issues and potentially infect more people.

If you think you have it sit at home for 2 weeks.

Observer said:

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The recommendation now is only to test if the result would significantly change the course of treatment.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/health/us-coronavirus-wrap-sunday/index.html

I don't understand this recommendation. A significant number of people are asymtomatic or very mild flu-like symtoms. Yet they are just as contagious as those with more severe conditions. We are not going to get this level this curve unless there are significant testings and quarantine those who are carriers.

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If you look at data in South Korea something like 96% of those tested for Covid-19, tested negative. At their heights, they were doing 20,000 tests per day. I'm not saying testing isn't important, but testing people with symptoms over anyone who wants one is the correct strategy. If we test everyone that just wants one we're wasting testing and PPE resources on the 95% that will test negative. Especially when the policy is already for everyone to self quarantine.

H.E. Pennypacker said:

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Since our testing capabilities are severely lacking, it makes sense to limit what we do have for the cases that need to be confirmed for treatment.

Everyone else needs to take responsibility and social distance properly. However, I'm not really seeing our leaders tell people how to do that, nor do I have a lot of faith that many of our fellow citizens understand that avoiding crowded restaurants, grocery stores, etc is the point. Lots of people seem to think it's an extended Labor Day weekend cookout

Once we have more tests, obviously, we need to test aggressively

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You're missing the reasoning, but you're in good company because the media and many others have been wrong on this for a while now.

We are now getting to the point that we now have much more testing capability and in many locations more tests than people we are willing to test.

The tests aren't the scarcest of our finite resources anymore.

The healthcare workers who are needed to administer the tests throughout the whole process are needed for higher priority tasks, and we also need to minimize their exposure to infected.

The physical resources in terms of space are also limited, and testing is likely to bring infected into contact with uninflected who wouldn't be in contact if they all stayed home.

More importantly, we have a PPE shortage that is a much bigger concern right now, and precious PPE is getting used to test whether or not someone who probably doesn't have it actually has it. Even with the restrictions we've placed on testing, most people are still testing negative in the US.

Many of the tests give false results, so you aren't Even getting the certainty that you want.

People don't need to be tested. People need to treat themselves as infected if they have any reason to believe they're infected.

And those who don't have any reason to believe there infected need to understand they can be asymptomatic and practice social distancing and proper hygiene.

The lack of Testing is not the problem right now. Testing for an insufficient reason is a much bigger problem.

DeWrecking Crew said:

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Observer said:

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The recommendation now is only to test if the result would significantly change the course of treatment.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/health/us-coronavirus-wrap-sunday/index.html

I don't understand this recommendation. A significant number of people are asymtomatic or very mild flu-like symtoms. Yet they are just as contagious as those with more severe conditions. We are not going to get this level this curve unless there are significant testings and quarantine those who are carriers.

---

If you look at data in South Korea something like 96% of those tested for Covid-19, tested negative. At their heights, they were doing 20,000 tests per day. I'm not saying testing isn't important, but testing people with symptoms over anyone who wants one is the correct strategy. If we test everyone that just wants one we're wasting testing and PPE resources on the 95% that will test negative. Especially when the policy is already for everyone to self quarantine.

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But that is the point - they caught the 4% that are positive. As the result, they don't have the shutdown their economy. The cost of testing is far cheaper than the cost of shutting down the economy.

I can tell for a fact that significant number of people are not going to go into self quarantine unless they have received positive result of COVID-19.

But the 4% they caught were probably exhibiting symptoms, if we had a plethora of PPE resources and testing resources, sure, but we don't

DTP02 said:

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H.E. Pennypacker said:

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Since our testing capabilities are severely lacking, it makes sense to limit what we do have for the cases that need to be confirmed for treatment.

Everyone else needs to take responsibility and social distance properly. However, I'm not really seeing our leaders tell people how to do that, nor do I have a lot of faith that many of our fellow citizens understand that avoiding crowded restaurants, grocery stores, etc is the point. Lots of people seem to think it's an extended Labor Day weekend cookout

Once we have more tests, obviously, we need to test aggressively

---

You're missing the reasoning, but you're in good company because the media and many others have been wrong on this for a while now.

We are now getting to the point that we now have much more testing capability and in many locations more tests than people we are willing to test.

The tests aren't the scarcest of our finite resources anymore.

The healthcare workers who are needed to administer the tests throughout the whole process are needed for higher priority tasks, and we also need to minimize their exposure to infected.

The physical resources in terms of space are also limited, and testing is likely to bring infected into contact with uninflected who wouldn't be in contact if they all stayed home.

More importantly, we have a PPE shortage that is a much bigger concern right now, and precious PPE is getting used to test whether or not someone who probably doesn't have it actually has it. Even with the restrictions we've placed on testing, most people are still testing negative in the US.

Many of the tests give false results, so you aren't Even getting the certainty that you want.

People don't need to be tested. People need to treat themselves as infected if they have any reason to believe they're infected.

And those who don't have any reason to believe there infected need to understand they can be asymptomatic and practice social distancing and proper hygiene.

The lack of Testing is not the problem right now. Testing for an insufficient reason is a much bigger problem.

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We are on the same page. I understand what you are saying. To me, test = all the resources/personnel necessary to conduct a test.


At some point, IMO, National Guard/Armed Forces personnel may need to take up duties for testing so that our limited medical personnel can focus on life saving that would seem the easiest way to find the necessary manpower. Or the govt needs to hire a whole bunch of newly out of work citizens to do it.