Conavirus......

[iris lilies]

My understanding--from what I saw on the news last night--is that what is different about this virus is that it's highly contagious, so unless it's contained early (which we can't gauge without tests) it will result in overwhelming the one million hospital beds we have available in this country, putting people who need them for other conditions at increased risk and completely swamping medical personnel. We can be thankful that it's not more debilitating for most.

It will completely swamp medical facilities.

It is just amazing to me that people who should know better do not do better. The government will not save this situation. The lack of virus test kits is a huge problem, do not think I am downplaying that. But...

...human behavior will be what it is. Who is gonna make those with symptoms take a test? Why dont they stay home from non essential activities? Even with “test kits” we all know we spread virus before symptomatic, thats Spreading Disease 101.

This looks to me like pre-Katrina stuff. Everyone knows the storm is coming. Nanny Gubmnet recommends particular action, same with every hurricane. With Katrina it is Leave. With CVoid-19 it is Stay. This isnt complicated.

With every hurricane including Katrina the humans ignore common sense and Gubmnt directives and get themselves in a situation where emergency personnel have to act. And society is shocked because the government cannot address all emergency situations, people die.

No shit.

[bae]

It will completely swamp medical facilities.

It is just amazing to me that people who should know better do not do better. The government will not save this situation.

Ayup :-(

[JaneV2.0]

In Katrina, transportation was unavailable for those who needed it.
In COVID-19, test kits are unavailable for those who need them.

Cue the inevitable consequences.

No, government can't solve all our problems, but at least it should be able to provide information and facilitate supply distribution.
(What the hell is with classifying pertinent information, anyway? The truth will out eventually.)

[Alan]

In Katrina, transportation was unavailable for those who needed it.

No it wasn't, New Orleans was filled with school and metro buses which went unused. The problem was local government did not take action when it should have and we still haven't learned that a large federal government is not the answer to all our problems.

[bae]

I think the testing business is a bit of a red herring at this point. The disease is now so widely spread that surveillance/contact tracing resources are overwhelmed.

The only treatment at this point is supportive care, and you’d get that, tested or not, if there were resources for it.

And self quarantine/ isolation - you should do that with a cold or flu anyways, right now.

Testing is handy for some things still, but it isn’t going to solve the problem. That train has left the station.

[Gardnr]

I think the testing business is a bit of a red herring at this point. The disease is now so widely spread that surveillance/contact tracing resources are overwhelmed.

The only treatment at this point is supportive care, and you’d get that, tested or not, if there were resources for it.

And self quarantine/ isolation - you should do that with a cold or flu anyways, right now.

Testing is handy for some things still, but it isn’t going to solve the problem. That train has left the station.

Exactly.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Noone stays home with colds or flus It's been a pet peeve forever.

Maybe they will with corona if they happen to be one of the people lucky enough to have paid time off, maybe.

[bae]

Noone stays home with colds or flus It's been a pet peeve forever.

Maybe they will with corona if they happen to be one of the people lucky enough to have paid time off, maybe.

Well, I know we, locally, finished the final draft legal reviews of the orders that would allow *real* quarantine of infected people early this week....

And I know tomorrow morning we will likely approve a state of emergency for the County.

I don't think at present we'd have the resources here to enforce a quarantine of more than a couple of people though. My vest isn't the right color to know the answer to that question, but I see a table of people over there who are working it...

[dado potato]

Colorado is one of 4 states that have set up a drive-through site for coronavirus testing. Their first day for the site in Denver was 3/11. 160 people were tested. The hours are to be 10AM to 2PM daily. They expect to test more people per day in future.

The drive-through procedure minimizes exposure to other people. In Colorado, testing is free of charge, but it requires a photo ID and a doctor's note affirming that the patient meets criteria:
- showing symptoms of coronavirus, or
- has traveled recently in a high-risk area, or
- has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

People are asked to get their doctor's note by email or fax, rather than visit a doctor's office. Colorado specifies that results should be determined within 72 hours. Patients should quarantine voluntarily at home until they receive results by phone. Patients who test positive may receive an isolation order at the same time.

Similar drive-through testing has been set up in CT, WA, and CA.

I gather from a newswire photo that cars wait in line for their turn. I suppose if I had to wait, I would enjoy some American auto culture with the music of Chuck Berry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aZ6v679JtQ

[Gardnr]

Colorado is one of 4 states that have set up a drive-through site for coronavirus testing. Their first day for the site in Denver was 3/11. 160 people were tested. The hours are to be 10AM to 2PM daily. They expect to test more people per day in future.

Similar drive-through testing has been set up in CT, WA, and CA.

This is brilliant! I was so happy to hear this last week! Essentially no exposure to anyone as those healthcare workers are wearing necessary protective gear!