03-19-2020, 10:54 AM
(03-19-2020, 10:26 AM)Au165 Wrote: If all you are testing is the people who obviously show signs aren't you testing the people who need to "know" the least? It's the asymptomatic people who are going to be spreading this most rapidly as millions of those people are infected and have no idea. If you are sick, you are most likely already changing your behavior as you would do with the flu if you show no signs many are still going to go to work and continue the spread. If you are really sick you are probably going to the hospital anyways for shortness of breath, etc.
This has been my issue with testing from the start, it is essentially one large confirmation bias exercise as it's being done currently.
Ideally, we should be able to test for Covid-19 as readily as strep throat or the flu. But, in reality we can’t. So we need a protocol to determine who gets the resources we have. I didn’t make the protocol, but I’m forced to follow the protocol. And unlike the NBA I can’t get anyone tested because of the protocol.
You assume people change their behavior. But, that isn’t necessarily true.
A cold and Covid-19 could cause the same symptoms in a healthy adult with a normal immune system. Is everyone with a cold going to self quarantine for two weeks? No. Especially if they can’t afford to miss work because of a lack of PTO or sick leave. A cold wouldn’t qualify for FMLA, either.
But, a person with mild symptoms of Covid-19 might stay home if they knew it was Covid-19 and not a cold. And that would help contain the spread, ideally. Although some will continue to ignore medical advice as they do now.
Testing critically ill patients helps with resources. Special precautions are needed for Covid-19 patients that aren’t needed with others. Also, symptomatic providers can’t see patients for two weeks. They already asked me to cover for a sick provider toady. But, I’m at home with my daughter because the school is closed.