And Texas Caves In

JRscooby wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:


"The only time I see an advantage, other than to the statisticians, is if you test positive for the active virus and you have no other symptoms. Then you could quarantine yourself until you are no longer a silent carrier. But what are the odds of identifying that silent carrier?"

I can't tell what the odds would be to find that carrier with testing. But without testing, the odds of finding him are zero.
And without the testing, how can anybody know the risk? You test only the sickest at hospital, a high percentage of positives doesn't tell much. Testing the general population? You get useful info.
I think health care workers should be sampled every shift. Because of working with sick they have high probability of exposure. And if they have/not sick/will spread.
The store workers, and others should be tested every few days. If positive, stay home, with pay, until clear.
The US has a problem most of the world does not have when it comes to controlling this; Example, Mar 10, working as election judge. I packed alcohol and paper towels in lunch bag with plans to wipe pens and tables occasionally thru the day. Knew it would not be 100%, but thought might kill some, maybe just cold/flu. I was told by judges of the other party I could not do when any voters could see, because might influence the vote. Did any virus spread because I didn't wipe? Don't know, no testing.

The fastest test today takes about 15 minutes. At any given time the average Walmart has about 100 people working. It would take more than a day to process an 8 hour shift. And even if you tested every employee, what about the customers? They are just as likely to infect others (including those employees who just tested clean) and there is no way to test them before they enter. Testing as a way to actually control the spread is a false promise. Covid19 is something we will just have to adapt to having as a threat, just like many other diseases. The best hope short term is that some of the treatments currently in use prove to be beneficial. Mid term, hopefully those treatments will be refined, augmented and improved. Long term it is hoped that an effective vaccine can be developed. Making it just go away by segregating the population by some kind of testing is not feasible.