lou Andrews,
The point is that anyone can drive up and get an attendant at a Wendy’s or Mickey D to jab a swab up someone’s nose but who is going to process and interpret the test.
Knowledge is powerful; it takes a technician or scientist to know how to process the thing.
4
I don’t know why this is complicated? If you have Covid-19 symptoms self quarantine forv14 days until it goes in remission. Why waste weeks waiting for a test kit while infecting other people?
2
Well. It's China's fault. The Chinese put us in this terrible position because they were not being transparent in the first place.
2
China stole all our secrets including the bomb so we can not touch them; capitalism did this to us by wrongly putting too much trust in the possibility of communist largesse.
This is what I need to be able to do the test: I need assistants to perform the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, wearing face shields, N95 masks, and for each separate patient the assistants must change gowns and gloves. We need as many test kits as patients who want testing, enough coolers with enough ice packs to keep all the collected samples frozen without contamination, and another set of assistants to bring the test kit to a collection location or to overnight the kits to the lab in Wadsworth. I need yet another set of assistants to register the patients and create charts for them in an EHR that has an ordering system synchronized with the performing lab, and another person to handle the healthcare insurance of the patients. If there is an interested private party who is willing to supply the materials, assistance, time, and funds, then let's do it.
10
True, quality testing is more than a kit; the test requires a person qualified to run the test then someone to interpret the test; staffing is a major issue.
1
@Lisa Troy - sorry to disagree with you but there is such a thing as "Drive up testing". Its being done all around the world except here. except for a few spots. you don't need to go into any office or ER just pull up and get swabbed there are pictures on the net to see for yourself. CDC and state health authorities haven't a clue regarding this, more incompetence on their part. Some first world country we turned out to be.
4
It's so sad that America, whose scientists discovered RNA and invented polymerase chain reaction (PCR), ELISA, and much of modern molecular biology and immunology, is the last developed country to have good testing capacities.
It's not even a problem of supply - there's thousands of labs in the US that could test for Covid. It's just proper allocation and coordination of people, machines, and chemicals across the country, or in one word: leadership. Or the lack of it with Trump.
12
This is a national disgrace which will be forever in our history books as the opportunity squandered at the moment of inflection which led to tens of thousands if not more dying. Once it is safe to do so I will be marching in the street for accountability and consequence for all those leaders in the FDA, CDC and this administration who failed to act, prioritized their own need for power or control over the lives of Americans. These deaths now are on you all who have so utterly failed. The fact that the criteria is still having traveled or been in direct contact with someone with Covid is beyond madness as story after story is attesting.
12
@Sam D Go ahead and spit into the wind. Your will just get a face full of spit. Nothing changes. The average American has the retention and attention level of a 6 month old. In a years this will be a distant or forgotten event for 90% of the population. The political parties choose who runs for political office. Your vote for an official means nothing. The outcome has been preordained by those in charge. Best if you just accept the fact and get as most joy out of life as you can while you can.
2
I can't help but think that if Bloomberg is still the mayor there'll be a lot less chaos right now
2
Oh please, Bloomberg would be in Bermuda. His staff would have the burden of running the city.
3
Trump is to blame for not ordering enough tests from the get go. A fiasco!
@Dan Romm Trump is not in charge of ordering medical tests. Tests do not cure or treat the virus. If Biden or Bernie were president there wouldn't have been enough tests. The virus had to be studied before a test could be developed. It does not happen over night. Those responsible for developing the test did an excellent job as fast as was humanly possible. after development the manufacturing of tests takes time. Over 4 million tests have been shipped. Take your political hype and put it where it belongs in a circular file under your sink. We all know what it is worth.
2
@RUMoron FACT: 2 months ago China was conducting mass testing already.
4
I am absolutely floored by the complete breakdown of our public health system at every level from federal to municipal. The only way to bend the curve on the infection rate is to break the transmission cycle with sweeping and enforced quarantine and social distancing protocols, followed by systematic decontamination efforts. The only way to do this efficiently and effectively is to know what the burden of disease is and where it is. Look at S. Korea. They instituted massive testing, mapped out the infected and targeted active transmission paths. They went from hundreds of new cases a day to tens (all the while testing to confirm).
By contrast, the US’s response of half measures here and there (unenforced isolation zones, social distancing with active nightlife, making hand sanitizer, etc) will have about as much effect as leeches and bleeding did on the plague: none.
Our governments had two months to prepare. Trump spent it silencing science, mocking warnings and spreading germs and xenophobia. He spent the last 2 years gutting the public health system.
Listen up, Trump supporters, it’s time to take the blinders off. You’ve forgiven him his rapes, his collusion, his corruption, his ignorance, his xenophobia, his debasement of our national institutions, even his orange color and massive combover. Are you also going to forgive him for endangering you, your parents, your grandparents? Your kids? Make no mistake, his willful blindness will cost American lives. Speak up!
20
Its one thing to have our leading doctors and health experts tell everyone including Congress how serious thes virus is and its entirely another thing to have our ER and medical personnel to follow suit. they haven't and don't seem to want to . they were , are dismissive of this virus, not all but i believe most have taken a rather flippant, lax attitude regarding it. The flu is worse they say. So does that mean you should not test people, all people who come in with most flu-like symptoms? It seems so. Until these doctors heed the warnings from other ER and medical staff from other countries as to how dangerous this virus is and to test, test and do more tests , then we have lost control of this thing and there are no others to blame except for the Trump administration, most public health authorities and the local ER staff at most hospitals around the country and of course local medical practitioners around the country. Shame on all of you. "Do no harm". Words alien to most medical professionals
4
The failure of government at all levels across party lines. You can’t be tested We can’t diagnose you but stay home. Failure failure failure. For this we pay taxes.
6
This is an epic national scandal. Practically everything that could have been done wrong has been done wrong, from the firing of the team responsible for planning for epidemics, the ludicrously naive assumptions about the possible spread of the virus in the US, the refusal to use tests that were working in the rest of the world, to the ridiculously slow hamstringing bureaucracy that continues to stall our testing efforts even as the crisis rages in our communities.
Alas though, if recent history is any guide it is a lesson we are likely to forget once the crisis passes, just as we have done with so many natural disasters and other possible threats. The whining will soon begin that we're spending too much tax money on something that isn't likely to happen (again). Then the cost accountants and consultants will be called in and we will cut back and cut back some more, only to scream again when something happens about the inadequate preparation for the next foreseeable crisis.
7
I have to agree with the majority of the people here who seem to think that testing will really only bring awareness to those who know that they have the virus akin to a flue but nothing else. In reality, there is nothing else that can be done except to take care, isolate oneself, and save those who have compromised conditions. But there is so much more than that for those of us with mild symptoms. Then there are the invincible, the young and strong.
I am so tired of arguing with so many dunderheads that this is like the flu and the flu kills so many every year, blah, blah. I watch kids on spring break and cringe at the fact that they could bring back a deadly virus to gramps and grammy while they are still nursing their hangovers. Even their young parents seem to feel the same, teach their kids the same mottos, and can't change their minds.
Finally, why on earth can't we just copy the tried and true methods used in Europe to develop our tests, use them, stop trying to redevelop our own test, test everyone getting onto airplanes and off, into schools or whatever venues we still are allowing while we still have the chance?
Family in Italy have been testing non-stop for over a month. Look at what has been happening over there. We are far behind them. We are a much bigger country, with a much less heedful population it seems from what I see because the message has been mixed and played down from the top, when it could have been earnest and responsible from the beginning.
5
@norinal - we can't even do that.. today at the local supermarket i noticed several people coughing and sneezing straight into the air or into their hands. Another guy on line waiting at the check out had a bunch of groceries in his hands, sneezed straight onto the groceries.. didn't even bother to clean up or disinfect. I real feel sorry for the check out clerks dealing with these jerks. As a reminder, most people don't wash their hands or do a quick rinse after using the restroom so how do you expect people to do the right thing and self quarantine?
2
But don't despair everyone, there are plenty of kits to test all of Congress, both house and senate even those not at risk. Because without your good old GOP friends, the people's work would never get done. Oh, that's right. It isn't getting done.
5
@Christine Joyce Not necessarily true. My congressperson Rep Don Beyer thought he could get tested based on being around someone positive and seeing lots of other people himself was denied testing. At least it was reported as such on MSNBC.
1
@Christine Joyce You forget your good old friends the Demoncrats. As to the peoples work getting done, I haven't seen much of anything from the democrats in the last 10 years or more. All they do is sit around and gripe about Trump. Push unsuccessful impeachment attempts and foster outright lies. Did you know a test kit is not going to cure you or prevent you from getting the virus? If you are going to be infected you will be and if you are going to die from the virus you will.
1
@Charlie Let me guess. Did he show any signs of infection? No? Just when did this happen? Do you believe everything on MSNBC or any of the other liberal left wing outlets. If you read it on the internet then it is gospel, right? LOL!
2
This man has gaslighted the nation.
Without a capacity for critical reasoning, "democracy" is not rule by the people. It is rule by fools.
Who would elect a malignant, incompetent, mendacious authoritarian? Fools.
4
This is a unforgivable disgrace...
1
"We're from the government and we are here to help." ......Right!
2
We are about to experience the acid test for not only our government, but our democracy. God help us all.
3
I logged onto a NYS website (unrelated to health) today and at the top of the home page it says: "New York's healthcare system is the best in the world, and our agencies are prioritizing testing, containment tracking and quarantine protocols to keep New Yorkers safe during this period?" What??? Just what?? Even before this happened, NY's healthcare system (or any other state's for that matter) is hardly the best in the world. Talk about out of touch!
7
@Nancy G. Here in Eastern Mass. the world class hospitals in, Boston, Mass. General, Brigham & Women's hospital have a limited supply of Coronavirus tests available. I have a mild flu but since I have a cough and runny nose, my PCP is told not to see me. We were warned weeks ago by Dr. Fauci that Coronavirus will be an unprecedented challenge.
Guess we are on our own Nancy.
3
@Nancy G. Have you seen the health care systems in the rest of the world? I have seen it in the so called developed countries. I do not have to see it in the third world countries to know what they are like. I also know those who can afford to travel to the US to be treated in our system do so. Yes, Nancy, we have the best health care system in the world. The worlds doctors come to our country to be educated and most stay after their education. They know how good we have it even if you don't. Your stance is based on ignorance not fact. You do not know what you have until you do not have it anymore.
Why would our government want tests? It would only increase the known numbers of the infected, something our president was blatantly frank about by requesting the affected cruise passengers not be allowed on shore. He will do anything to suppress truth.
We have over 300 million people on this country. Last I heard we had made about one million tests. Oh.
12
I feel like we are tragically living through one of the worst failures of leadership this country has faced in decades, if not longer. EVERY single decision made by our President and his administration is the opposite of what needs to be done - for our health and financial well being.
According to experts the best way we have to stop this virus is through wide spread testing and social distancing.
We are doing neither and in fact our President has encouraged the opposite.
The decision to "shut down" European travel has plunged us an economic meltdown. We need cooperation not these selfish, ineffective shows of action.
Sadly, It seems whole one can play a leader on reality TV, when a real crisis comes, it can't be faked, especially when our current leader have driven out and repeatedly ignored experts. The experts are practically pleading with Trump to do the right thing.
16
@Emilia How old are you Emilia? Just wait it gets worse and it does not matter who is in charge or which political party controls the government. In fact this president is one of the best in almost a century. The rest have talked a good game, but were a sorry lot. Trump should have shut down all travel from all countries for the next six months. Nothing that could not be accomplished over the internet or by phone. The experts are saying Trump is already doing the right thing.
1
Now all the people who voted for Trump find out what it is like to have a president who is not a leader.
He has put incompetent people in cabinet positions and other key posts, whose qualifications are that they support the president, not criticize his statements, and at all costs attack the Democrats and any of their policies.
The situation and response regarding the Coronavirus is just one example showing the results of gutting the CDC’s funding, criticizing its leadership, and making false or misleading statements regarding the Coronavirus outbreak.
I hope all the people who voted for Trump are happy with their decision.
8
South Korea has tested 200 K people. The rate of death there is .7 percent. What is taking the US so long? Perhaps putting a creationist in charge, instead of scientist, is a problem. We are so far behind on this than other countries. Thoughts and prayers as usual, but no plan.
10
@thewriterstuff Our death rate is .1% and most of them died in the same nursing home. What are you talking about? Never heard that Trump proselytizes creationism over science. There is no conflict between God creating the universe or sciences claim. Science still cannot explain how the Universe came into existence, dark matter, what happens in the core of a black hole and subatomic particles. The list of the unexplained by science goes on and on. God is as good as an explanation as science.
1
@thewriterstuff Our death rate is .1% and most of them died in the same nursing home. What are you talking about? Never heard that Trump proselytizes creationism over science. There is no conflict between God creating the universe or sciences claim. Science still cannot explain how the Universe came into existence, dark matter, what happens in the core of a black hole and subatomic particles. The list of the unexplained by science goes on and on. God is as good as an explanation as science.
Why is there still testing scarcity? Oh..I forgot! VP Pence is in charge and he's still praying! Praying is what you do before the battle. It is not a substitute for action. This whole thing smacks of some "family values" nonsense.
1
@TrumpGrump
Not a fan of current Admin or even Pence. But to give Pence his due, he’s been trying. He was publicly commending Washington state Governor when Trump interrupted to call the Governor a snake during a recent press conference.
2
Well then, NYT should put a big disclaimer on its coronavirus map of the U.S. that the number of cases vastly exceeds what is shown, that community spread is likely to be everywhere in the nation, and that everyone should assume community spread, wherever they live, and take precautions.
4
The tide is going out and America now knows that it’s public/private health system is exposed.
5
All Trump's fault. Among too many blunders to count, he refused to take already-available Coronavirus test kits from WHO. No, he decided America needed to develop its own. Why? So his Wall Street buddies could cash in on the backs of the American people?
7
@jes999 He wanted tests that actually work and accurate.
Would someone please explain why we aren't buying tests from South Korea? What are the factual and concrete reasons we are so behind on testing?
2
@Nyc60 We prefer to invest in our health care system. Enough of depending on other countries for our pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostic tools. Time to make sure we do not get caught flat footed again by the insane trade deals made under the democrats over the years. Just what did the Korean tests do for the Koreans anyway? One of the worst hotpots for infections of the virus. Maybe their tests were not so good at detecting the virus?
1
For the medical technology country like ours not having tests at this point is an utter disaster, malfeasance and incompetence. This is a criminal matter.
We may have thousands of sick people right now walking around and spreading the virus.
3
What exactly is happening in this country? There is a viral pandemic raging around the world, and it is spreading within the United States as predicted and expected. So, with the cat out of the bag, our fearless and ignorant president believes that the answer to our infectious disease problem is to now stop planes and boats from arriving in the US? At this point, what’s the difference? The virus is spreading within communities and there’s no vaccine or known antidote available. The efforts of our “government” should be directed at diagnosis, containment, and treatment. This means funding the CDC and NIH so that our medical leaders can do their jobs properly and without threat of being held back or muzzled. This is not 1950, it’s the 21st century, and medical research and treatments have come a long way from the days when even a president could become a victim of polio (also a virus). Yet we have insufficient numbers of testing labs, insufficient equipment, and too many inane and insane criteria to allow Americans to be diagnosed and treated for the effects of this awful virus. It’s time that Trump, Pence, and all of the other benighted government officials got out of the way and allowed real professionals to do their jobs. It is also time for the White House to free up as much money as is needed for the states to keep their people safe and healthy. Whether Trump and his minions realize it or not, even they are at risk. Wake up. all!!!
9
Mr. Trump's ignorance bought himself a 7% drop in the stock market this morning (3/12/20) by shutting down air travel to Europe rather than IN FACT making absolutely sure that there is test capability to assess local transmission of the disease.
It isn't that quarantines and social isolation aren't critical. It is simply a matter of realizing that once social transmission of the virus within communities is the dominant mode of transmission, then THAT should be the focus of US efforts.
Trump is utterly delusional and incompetent. He still doesn't grasp the fact that the low levels of PROVEN CASES in the US are likely due to the low level of testing and not because we have fewer cases.
That error will cost us dearly in the near future. Far more people will get sick than have to and the rate of infection is going to overwhelm medical facilities.
Meanwhile Trump loves his "numbers". He is so obsessed with appearances that a relatively small number of infected Americans on a cruise ship needed to be kept offshore in their floating jail rather than getting real medical attention in Oakland.
10
What an astonishing article. In the last 3 paragraphs, we have (1) an MD failing to grasp basic principles of public health, (2) a reporter stating them succinctly, and (3) a public health official giving up on a public health response to a developing epidemic, apparently oblivious to the vast mismatch between resources and impending need intrinsic to a medical response. Even better, (4) the next column over describes the easy availability of COVID testing in Australia. Anyone following the COVID story carefully is aware of S. Korea's quite successful public health response.
Many people will die who might have lived had this country's medical and political establishments not be so rife with corruption and incompetence.
8
A 60-something relative on the Upper East Side has a bad flu-like illness. Her primary care physician told her NOT to come in to his office, to go to an urgent care walk-in clinic. She called there beforehand and was instructed NOT to come in, to go to the emergency room. The emergency room told her NOT to come in, that they have no ability to test for coronavirus.
We are in a real fix. This has been so botched. People are dying unnecessarily on Trump’s watch while he golfs or makes accusations of “Fake News.”. Nero fiddling while Rome burns indeed.
23
@Kathryn I got the same response from my PCP. Boston hospitals have very limited available testing kits. It will be a relief to not see the MAGA hats at Trump's rally praising this naked king. I also have flu and spend time reading A Very Stable Genius. (Don't ask)
1
This is absolutely infuriating, because there is absolutely no reason for us to have a shortage of tests. The test for coronavirus is a simple procedure called quantitative real-time PCR that can be done in most research laboratories. Any research university should be able to run more than 2,000 tests per day, and most universities would be happy to do so if it were permitted.
The issue is all of the red tape and bureaucratic restrictions that prevent us from testing. The government must lift those immediately so we can get a handle on this outbreak.
5
So the Department of Health, which "runs most of the testing in New York City," can only run 60 tests per day but wants to "ramp up" to 100 tests per day? Basically this tells me that the NYC system we have right now is pretty much useless. If myself or a family member started showing symptoms NYC basically has no way of confirming what we would have absent winning some kind of testing lottery. As others have said, other counties seemed to figure out how to test en mass, another marker of this country's decline.
9
@Zirc
Here's a story about how the South Koreans are doing it.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-testing-intl-hnk/index.html
The difference seems to be that Seegene ( the Korean company ) is focussed on molecular testing while we're focussed on not upsetting the existing system.
2
Half of American adults have hypertension.
34.2 million have diabetes.
16-24 million have COPD.
Around 35 million are over 70.
These are the "vulnerable."
9
@Mme Chauchat
Also, 10 million immunocompromised.
5
I seem to have a mild flu for the past few days. Spoke to my PCP this morning and if a patient presents with a cough or runny nose, the office will not schedule an appointment. I asked about a coronavirus test. Because they are very limited he gave me a phone number to call. Unless I met the criteria, I am on my own.
2
The U.S. has the most expensive healthcare industry in the world. And it is proving to be one of the least effective in dealing with a public health crisis.
I don't know what the best solution is, but the priorities in this industry need to change.
17
The lack of testing brings about several problems. We know that testing is not treating or curing, but at least it also allows health researchers to keep track not only of how many confirmed cases but the duration of the disease. Or also how long is an infected person contagious. For those over the hill with the virus, this at least may bring down the anxiety of contracting it a bit. Imagine going for a year and a half, until the vaccine is available, with the anxiety and hyper precautions of contracting it, due to not knowing one may have already gone through it and is immunized. Who is doing research on the cycle of the disease?
8
This article brings tears to my eyes. I don't know what has happened to our country. What happened to the land of innovation? What is South Korea doing that the USA is unable to, so they could test 7000x number of patients per capita as we are? If can China can build a hospital in a week, why can't we build a dozen drive thru testing centers in every city in a week? Why can't the smartest scientists sit down with the billionaires, and solve this very solvable challenge? This is is not even brain surgery. The science behind testing for a virus with a known genetic sequence is classic. The sequence was published on January 11. It's now Mar 12. Really, America?
28
@Sophie I know what happened, a terrible administration happened.
2
So basically we've given up. South Korea and China and Singapore were able to get their caseloads under control by testing people. But we are apparently a Third World country.
22
@Jeff NO Jeff
Here in the USofA its all a cost based analysis.
Funny that Singapore, the worlds biggest Capitalistic country, saw this for what it is and went full steam ahead.
Here no one wanted to upset der leader and the "markets" will silly Democratic fake news designed to hurt Trump.
NO we cant put a dent in the Wall St market.
Penny wise ton foolish
1
@Jeff
We are a third world country with a banana republic dictator wanna be in charge. It’s all crony capitalism and PR with their own state propaganda machine. Too bad that viruses don’t have the ‘intelligence’ to follow the diktats on Faux.
6
I am a public school teacher in a large school district on Long Island and started exhibiting symptoms early this week. Because my fever was less than 100.4 and I had not traveled, I was told I did not meet the criteria for testing. I pleaded. After all, I had been in close contact with hundreds of children. My private doctor wouldn't see me and didn't even call me. I paid $126 for a virtual appointment with another NYU Langone doctor who told me there was nothing that could be done. He suggested I use Afrin. This virtual appointment was not covered by insurance. I paid $126 for nothing. Which is exactly what is happening around testing. It's a mess.
36
@Leah I had to go here and send a message to the president if he let the CDC kill me then you would not have my vote. I tried to make it simple for him to understand. I sent the same message to my other representative.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Go to work If the system is cavalier in its treatment why should it expect more from its citizens
Leah, it is the case that most private doctors do not have the facilities nor the staff to address health issues such as yours that may need isolation; they are scared to death of having the office contaminated.
At age 74 years, a former nurse, I would never go to a doctors office for anything; they do not have the required equipment nor staff; I go to clinics with the little people and wait my turn, but I would call the clinic ahead of time to let them know that I am coming and let them know my symptoms.
Can someone please explain why there are STILL so few kits available that they have to be rationed in such a strict way? We've been promised the manufacturing of kits at a large scale now fro some weeks and nothing happens. Why is it, may I ask, that South Korea and Australia, second world nations, have the capacity to massively test and we do not, now even in hot areas? Why do theyr labs have more capacity to process these tests daily (even in drive through stations)? What technology are they using that we do not have? Are they buying their kits and from where or are they producing them themselves? Why were ours flawed? Don't we have enough trained personnel? Are we third world now?
16
@tdb Australia and South Korea are definitely not second world nations! Nowhere near.
3
@tdb - Our “flaw” is Trump. End stop.
1
Just left a doctor’s office in Manhattan. Big sign saying they couldn’t test for the virus.
30
What does it matter if you test positive or not? If you show symptoms and are concerned, self-quarantine, drink fluids and go to the hospital if symptoms get worse. There is *nothing* else to do.
(and if you have the flu, you should the same things anyway)
It is irrelevant to "know" if you have the virus or not. There is no special treatment for you.
2
Public health authorities would like to know. People who live with older people would like to know. Those with underlying conditions need to know.
There is no excuse for not being able to test in large numbers. What does South Korea, Germany, France, UK and Australia have that we don’t? Foresight and competent leadership.
We get to have Donald Trump and the GOP. A bunch of reactionary insurgents that know nothing about governing.
36
@OneView Accurate testing crucial for public health reasons. First of all the numbers they are throwing around completely meaningless if hardly any of "presumptive" cases are not being tested. There is also belief that people can show none, or very mild symptoms that dont meet self quarantine protocol, but they can spread the virus. I work in Hospital, washing my hands like crazy. They sent a worker home that had had contact with someone who finally tested positive 10 days before!!! I just read that Tom Hanks had no problem getting tested in Australia.
17
@Practical Thoughts If you meet any of those conditions, please act as if you have the virus and take care of yourself.
My point is that "knowing" if you have the virus is irrelevant. You won't be treated any differently if you have have it.
Wanting to know does not mean you need to know. Sometimes it's good to put a name on something, but it has no practical affect.
The biggest risk for contagion is among those people who ARE NOT SICK and show NO SYMPTOMS. So if you are at risk, you may want to stay away from those people. Those are the people who actually need to be tested
This is exactly what happened to me. I am in the DC area and having mild symptoms (low grade fever, muscle aches, dry cough), and after calling my health care provider 7 times trying to be tested, I was refused a test as I was deemed too “low-risk.”
17
I have cancer, am 71 years old, was in direct contact with someone who recently returned from Northern Italy, and Monday night went into coughing spasms that lasted throughout the night. I went to emergency care and was refused a test because I didn't have a temperature. I am self-quarantining but I am deeply concerned that if someone who meets as many criteria as I do does not qualify for a test, I think we are in trouble.
74
@Robert And what would change if you knew you had the Coronavirus? I expect nothing.
Please get well soon.
@OneView She has pre-existing conditions with which she may need help in order to not succumb to secondary infections with an already weakened immune system. She may need help with breathing which she may get only in a hospital. Why do you think in other countries patients have been placed in intensive care and survived? They are not being told to go home, live or die on their own.
3
I distinctly remember reading days ago that 23,000 tests had been delivered to NY. There was no mention of necessary paperwork before testing could begin. I was surprised when I heard the Governor state yesterday that NYS could no longer wait for the Federal government and would begin its own testing program.
If clear, complete and truthful information from all levels of government is what will help us get through this epidemic, we are in very serious trouble.
18
2000 tests have been run in NYC.
There are 216 cases in New York State (as per Johns Hopkins this morning).
That means that of the people tested so far, 10.8% of people have the virus.
This is the tip of the iceberg.
38
I had a virus in the last few days with a temperature that went up to 103. None of the doctors I contacted told me where to go for testing. I am self-isolating and beginning to feel somewhat better. However getting tested in the New York Area for Covid-19 is still only done on a very limited basis.
29
Where can I get a rest if I think I need a test? It makes no sense for me to go to my doctor or urgent care or emergency room and spread my germs to everyone. Are there testing sites in each county?
What’s the plan?
Several people I know have tried to be tested and were turned away - how does one get the test?
13
@Deirdre
That's the U.S. Healthcare "System".
I posted a tweet that other are not happy about. I told people to take a Uber to the hospital and go in the main entrance and pass out and then I bet they would be tested. Now I'm being attack. I suggested they spend their energy telling their representatives we need better and more testing with different guide lines not attacking me. Perhaps you can tell people who to call to change the testing.
10
@Charlie Please don't do that. If you're not infected, you're putting yourself at risk. If you are infected, you're putting others at risk.
Also the ER needs to be reserved for serious cases right now. Call DOH to get on the list to get tested.
After getting the run-around for a while yesterday, I'm now on the DOH list.
1
I have not seen a single article that says succinctly where the bottlenecks are. Is it availability of the test kits, availability of labs to analyze the test kits, or something else? Instead of all the articles on how difficult it is to be tested, highlight the issues behind the lack of testing.
27
@Pete
There's a shortage of the RNA reagents needed to isolate the virus. This is an essential step before testing can begin.
17
@Vance Research labs all across the country use these reagents daily, they should step up and give away what they have in storage.
2
@Pete
It is becoming a criminal matter, I believe. S. korea has been testing 10,000 people a day already 4 weeks ago. All we tested so far is below 10,000. Must be criminal incompetence!
1
Waiting for my test results here. (Cold symptoms and a colleague who traveled to Italy.) On day 6 of isolation.
Bored, but managing. Ate my stash of chocolate, though.
12
@Human Order some more over Amazon. Good luck.
@Human life without chocolate is challenging!
1
Covid is showing America that saying you have tests, saying there will be millions delivered, saying that everybody can be tested, blah, blah, blah is just words. The only difference between these words and a lot of previous ones is that the virus doesn't have ears.
"The labs have begun to prepare, officials said, and final approval is expected in the coming days after the state files the necessary paperwork."
I am assuming that people are working 24/7 to do this, which should be done in hours, not in several "business days." I assume the filing and approval is instantaneous electronically, or is it US Mail?
Instead of saying we have "world class care" maybe we should strive for "South Korea class care."
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@Mike S.
Viruses don't pay attention to Twitter either. That's the problem with electing someone who thinks every problem can be solved by threatening, blustering, or suing it into submission.
17
I think it is time for research labs that have the infrastructure and appropriate resources, to step up and get involved in the RNA isolation step from suspected samples. This step is laborious and can create a bottleneck.
The already extracted RNA can then be forwarded to a testing facility
This same process is done routinely for research purposes on other diseases, it should stop temporarily and be dedicated to Covid19.
14
@Betty What does this mean?
@Terry Thometz Dear Terry,
RNA is the material ow which the virus is made of, RNA is somewhat similar to DNA, This molecules have a way of coding information by ways of specific sequences . Is is a similar concept of what is use for 23 and me and ancestry
In order to check if someone has the virus, you have to extract the RNA that comes from this persons fluids and tissue and then check if there is a match with the virus "sequence"
So the first step is to do have the RNA from the person, the second step, the one that encompasses the "matching process" could be done in a more automated way, and many RNAs from many patients can be study at the same time. I hope this clarifies a little
1
@Terry Thometz So sorry for all the typos!
“Given that we have now crossed into community spread, it’s not a good use of scarce testing resources to test thousands of people who are asymptomatic just because they were in the same room of someone who tested positive,” Mark Levine, a city councilman who heads the City Council’s Committee on Health, said in an interview.
My understanding is that the virus is contagious even before there are symptoms, so testing those who have come into contact with corona but are asymptomatic is extremely valuable! Identifying those infected - even without symptoms - allows for quarantine and a reduction in spread.
Get the tests!
37
The testing situation is evolving rapidly this week. On Monday (3/9/2020), 2 enormous national diagnostic labs started to offer testing for SARS-CoV2. A patchwork of other local labs also offer testing in the US. It is estimated that today there is a testing capacity of just over 15,000 tests/day in the US. It seems that the mismatch between need and resources now is primarily geographic, but the 2 large national labs (FYI: Quest and LabCorps -- I do not work for either of these or personally benefit from their work) are available to all health care workers nationwide.
The Federal government has announced that insurance companies will not charge a co-pay for this test. The test should be widely available, but doctor's offices and other clinics need to acquire the test kits to collect sample to send them out. We are now using these in my clinic. IT can be done.
We are now at a turning point in the testing saga. We still need to enhance our testing capacity (to 30,000 or even 50,000 per day? Not sure!). We have the resources, and now there is largely a problem of coordination.
My advice: Remember, panic is not needed and will not help you. The virus is dangerous for older people and for those with chronic illness. Avoid crowds, wash your hands, do not touch your face. Check on people at high risk. Work from home if you can. Periodically check the CDC website: cdc.gov.
This too shall pass.
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@ID doc in Philly— May I just say that this sanctimonious “this too shall pass” makes me *more* panicky, not less, since if I succumb to the virus, I’ll be what passes.
3
@ID Doc in Philly
And stop panic-buying liquid soap and toilet paper in the supermarkets.
@ID Doc in Philly unfortunately some of us will pass as well. Sad but much of this could have been avoided by a functioning national government run by a knowledgeable executive instead of a crazy crybaby who insists this is not his fault.
1
Who woulda guessed: It turns out our subway system is the best running and most functional part of NY in comparison with every other function our state and local governments are involved in.
25
Decades of neglect of the public health system infrastructure are coming home to roost.....
Americans are on the whole undisciplined in terms of public hygiene - and poorly educated by our government, schooling and families. Being out and about in Boston and being alert and observant, I have seen that a majority of folks fail to observe respiratory syndrome etiquette. I was in a local coffee shop a few weeks ago and I saw a millennial standing with her coffee in one hand and looking at her iPhone in the other as she openly coughed. One sees similar behavior all the time ...
This lack of self hygiene bodes poorly in terms of limiting the spread of the new virulent coronavirus.
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@William M. Palmer, Esq.
Yes. The need to have one's phone in one's hand at all times, with eyes glued to phone, hampers one's ability to cough into one's sleeve.
1
@William M. Palmer, Esq. was coughed on by a fellow resident in the elevator in my apartment building.