I’ve yet to understand what “wide spread testing” gains us. Other than a chance for dips$&ts like Governor Klan to continue using his one man rule of VA. More testing will bring more positives and then OMG we ca t open now look how many people have it!!!
The testing has become a rat tool and a trap. There will never be enough and it will never end. So now it is being used to keep us under house arrest.
Testing is hugely critical in addressing this pandemic. The numbers we have now suck because we do not have wide-spread testing.
We are starting to see more anecdotal information that this virus is far more widespread than we believed initially in that very few people who carry the virus get sick or require hospitalization. In fact, I think they should put a priority on testing the employees at grocery stores, Walmarts, or Costco. These folks have had the most face time with the public in enclosed environments/spaces. If almost all of them test positive for anti-bodies in areas where outbreaks occurred we have a pretty representative number for the public over time.
You and I will both be exposed to this virus given what we know. It will not go away so we have two options - remain isolated or get on with life. Leaving the country shut down until there is a vaccine is not a realistic option although I am sure some would push for it.
There are areas of the country with very little exposure and few cases resulting in death or hospitalization, but what if the numbers are far higher even in those communities?
Testing will give us real data to better understand the virus, the risks, and allocate resources better in the coming months. We understand very little about this virus up to this point and have relied on “worst-case” modeling to set our policy. Those models are primarily built on the real numbers that only testing can provide.
I don’t think those who are vulnerable to this virus will be coming out of isolation anytime soon until we understand the data that only testing will provide.
Testing will change the modeling and “forecast.” That modeling and those forecast have dictated our response.
This knowledge, combined with an effective treatment regime for those who become seriously ill with the virus, will change everything.