From the COVID 19 health data website, it appears some areas are awash in tests far exceeding their suspected infections, and some areas still do not have nearly enough tests.
Tests are available, at least here, but the doctors are confused about who is eligible, so don’t order them.
I can get a test here in CT without a doctor’s order at some of the test sites. But I’m not getting tested…why? Well…I have not been sick, I have not been around anyone who has been sick, etc. Plus I will need to be tested before elective surgery the first week of October. In addition, I don’t love near a hot spot, and actually live in a semi rural town and don’t venture out of it much these days.
I think people are justifiably confused about whether they should be tested…or not.
Plus…I could test negative today…and turn up positive two days from now. I know…that could happen whether I get tested…or not.
But I’m trying to figure out a reason to be tested now. If there is one, please let me know…and I’ll go.
Well…except the testing centers are all located in places where the %age of positive cases is way higher than it is here.
Vandalism and civil unrest have forced at least 70 coronavirus testing sites across the United States to close, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Most were located in private pharmacies in what are deemed “socially vulnerable” neighborhoods, intensifying health officials’ fears that demonstrations against police violence could become a breeding ground for the coronavirus.
This from today’s Washington Post Live Updates.
Where do “we” live?
Where is “here”?
It would be helpful is folks could name their state, metro area…
Here in Metro Atlanta it is so easy to get a test. yesterday at one of the libraries doing early voting they had testing set up. No appointment or symptoms needed. My daughter has been having normal tummy issues, but just to be sure we signed up her to get a test last friday for Sat. No problem. (she was negative). many of my friends have been able to get tested any time they want. Before the protests the National Guard was bringing in testing in the lower economic neighborhoods. I was even able to get an antibody test (negative) as I traveled so much in Jan/Feb and was sick in march.
Exactly - this is the problem. We should have easy access testing available everywhere. FAST testing should be well in the works. I don’t see that.
There is still so much confusion - as you can see from some of the comments even in this thread.
What we need is preemptive testing, not just reactive testing - Regular testing of hospital employees (not just symptomatic or suspected or people that want one). I have a friend who works at a hospital in CT - they are not doing preemptive testing there even though they are ‘awash in tests’. The CVS tests take 2 full days to get results back. Too long.
We need preemptive testing in dentist offices, hospitals, doctors offices, businesses, airports etc…
You heard it here first, just watch if there is any spike in CV-19 cases anywhere in this country, it’s because of the “bad protesters” not social distancing and everything would have been fine had it not been for these unwarranted protests.
It’s the same argument that some people were saying about the homeless. Of my god the homeless will be super-spreaders of the virus…
I guess these are easy targets to assign blame without having to take any real accountability for your own actions.
Just a quick shout out to the State of Michigan: our new cases of coronavirus are way down (rolling seven-day averages are looking great, with 300 cases reported yesterday.) hospitalizations have plummeted. And we’ve dropped to number nine on the “states with the most coronavirus cases” on Worldometer! Florida passed Michigan just the other day.
Now that things are opening back up, we’ll have to see how it goes over the next month. Cautiously optimistic but knocking on wood…
Or it could be that they chose to attend dense gathering with lost of shouting, singing, and chanting. Everything we’ve been told to avoid.
LA County Public Health just sent out a tweet. They asked that anyone who attended a public protest and was closer than six feet to someone not in their household and not wearing a mask to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Nice try but it’s not going to happen.
Ohio is way behind on testing. We still opened everything up, except zoos, museums and amusement parks, two of which may be announced today.
The median incubation period for the virus is 4-5 days. The protests have been going on longer than this.
Further the announcement from LA County Public Health says that if you were in the crowds, not six feet apart from someone not wearing a mask, ASSUME you have been exposed to COVID 19.
This should have gone out before the protests. It’s a little late now.
Doesn’t anyone see the irony that gathering in a crowd with the purpose of saving lives will likely lead to more deaths from COVID?
Cheap shot.
Instead, they should be encouraging testing - making it easy for people to get tests.
I’ve stated multiple times that I live in the greater Seattle area; I thought there was no need to keep saying that. There are drive up test sites, but one still needs a doctor’s order to get tested. The DOH site confirms this is still the case. No general surveillance testing is offered.
It would be fantastic if racist violence would go away without protest. I just don’t think you can suggest to people not to oppose it when Covid is going on. I think a much more useful suggestion would be that the country, and especially officers of the government, stop being racist. That would really, really cut down on the protests.
Editing to add: and deliberately pushing crowds closer together seems particularly counter-productive, but we see it over and over.
The virus doesn’t care why you’re protesting. It will infect you no matter how good you think your reason for protesting is. It will kill you regardless and if you go meet with your grandparents and infect them, it can kill them too.
I watched the news on several local channels last night to see the different angles on our local protests. Last night’s protests looked like a giant block party on Capitol Hill (which would be happening if Covid did not close down the planned events like Pride). Mostly young folks, dancing, lounging in the park, eating, socializing, chanting, marching… some masks, but zero distancing. The youngsters are tired of being locked up and clearly used this as an opportunity to socialize in addition to protesting.
Exactly - plus the rules are the rules. How can people (and local authorities) in areas where they are forcing ‘no sitting’ at the beach be completely OK (from a virus perspective) with huge crowds in these protests? Where protests were allowed (without social distancing) any outdoor restrictions should be removed immediately. Either its dangerous and a public health risk, or its not.