WHAT PEOPLE HAVE IS PROBABLY THE VARIOUS COLLECTIONS OF RHINO AND CORONA VIRUSES THAT ARE ALWAYS SEEN BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND MARCH.
They do not have a reliable test for viruses. They have NEVER had one. Viruses are so small they can only be seen through an electron microscope. The PCR test, the one used right now to diagnose, is only able to see that you have DNA or RNA similar to a coronavirus, but it cannot specifically tell you what you have is the COVID.
If you remember your doctor telling you when you went to see him for a cold or flu, he would give you an antibiotic and tell you, "if you are better in three to five days then what you have is a bacteria. If you are not better then you have a virus and you're just going to have to let it pass through your system."
Is an irrational fear being pumped up with regard to the common cold? I think so.
That's not true at all. We have tests for all kinds of viruses, including Influenza Virus, poliovirus, smallpox (which is checked for by looking for the antibodies produced by the body), and many others. These tests have been available for decades and work just fine.
"The PCR test, the one used right now to diagnose, is only able to see that you have DNA or RNA similar to a coronavirus, but it cannot specifically tell you what you have is the COVID."
That isn't true at all. The PCR test for COVID-19 looks for specific genetic sequences only found in SARS-CoV-2. It is absolutely specific to SARS-CoV-2 and will NOT trigger on any other virus, including SARS-CoV-1 (SARS2003).
"If you remember your doctor telling you when you went to see him for a cold or flu, he would give you an antibiotic and tell you, "if you are better in three to five days then what you have is a bacteria. If you are not better then you have a virus and you're just going to have to let it pass through your system.""
It's less common now to give out antibiotics for things that are likely viral infections. However, you CAN get tested for flu and in fact there have been 122,615 flu tests performed in the US since September 27th with 319 positive tests split evenly between Influenza A and Influenza B thus far.