Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'It is a failing. Let's admit it,' NIAID Director Dr. Fauci says of Coronavirus testing capacity
NBC News ^ | 03/12/2020 | By Elizabeth Chuck

Posted on 03/12/2020 4:34:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

America has failed to meet the capacity for coronavirus testing that it needs, a top public health official publicly acknowledged Thursday.

"The system is not really geared to what we need right now," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a House hearing about coronavirus test kits in the United States, which were initially dogged by technical glitches. "That is a failing. Let's admit it."

Fauci was responding to a question from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, who asked about a claim by trade organization National Nurses United alleging that "countless" health care workers exposed to the coronavirus have been refused a test for it.

When the virus first started appearing in America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had narrow criteria for who could be tested for it, further limiting the number of tests performed on top of the technical problems. Those guidelines have since been expanded. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, who was also testifying in the hearing, directed Wasserman Schultz's question to Fauci.

"The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we're not set up for that," Fauci told Wasserman Schultz. "Do I think we should be? Yes. But we're not."

The blunt acknowledgment came as the CDC reported it had tested just over 11,000 specimens for the virus so far, far fewer than other nations, especially given that multiple specimens are needed for each patient. Meanwhile, South Korea is testing nearly 20,000 patients per day, according to the BBC.

In response to Fauci, Wasserman Schultz said: "That's really disturbing, and I appreciate the information."

The question came a week after a nurse exposed to the virus in northern California said in a statement through National Nurses United

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Cheese, Moose, Sister
KEYWORDS: anthonyfauci; communityspread; coronavirus; covid19; niaid; sarscov2; skyisfalling; testing; usatestingfail
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-116 next last
To: Cboldt

Do you think this promise was one he fabricated or misunderstood from one of his advisors? I think he’s just the messanger. He could have screwed that job up, no doubt, he’s done so before. But I think I heard other making the same sort of predictiona nd claim about millions of tests being available in a couple days. ”

I think that’s very likely correct, and in the vast majority of situations I’d find it understandable. He’s in a big job and can’t be in the details. But in this case...my feeling is he should’ve been enough into the detail to know if his subordinates were giving him good info or not. The availability of these tests will make or break our response, I think it’s the single most important aspect of this situation right now.


41 posted on 03/12/2020 5:10:58 PM PDT by NittanyLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: NittanyLion
-- I think it's the single most important aspect of this situation right now. --

Given the way the narrative has been framed, I agree.

Maybe Trump learned his lesson, and get a fall guy to make the promises for him.

I just assume the government is incompetent, and everything it touches it will make worse.

42 posted on 03/12/2020 5:13:13 PM PDT by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston

correct


43 posted on 03/12/2020 5:13:41 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I thought debbie resigned from congress.


44 posted on 03/12/2020 5:14:29 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston

“All the nonsense about this being a flu was intentional to damage DJT. Well done KooKs.”

1. Trump gets his advice from the top researchers and physicians in the country. He does not get it from kooks.

2. Could you explain how the severity of the disease is connected to Donald Trump in any way whatsoever. Looks like you are being brainwashed by the MSM.


45 posted on 03/12/2020 5:19:29 PM PDT by odawg (ANo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TChad

I think Dr. Fauci is an exhibitionist who likes attention.

Just my opinion.

He is one person who inspires no confidence in me.


46 posted on 03/12/2020 5:20:07 PM PDT by Maris Crane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: dp0622

As long as you have the 4 Major Food Groups — Fat, Grease, Salt, Sugar — you’ll be OK.


47 posted on 03/12/2020 5:21:10 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt

I was going to answer, but you already nailed it.


48 posted on 03/12/2020 5:22:59 PM PDT by Teacher317 (We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind; RummyChick; Vermont Lt

CDC has only done 77 test since March 5th.. This is incompetence at the highest level.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8106011/CDC-admits-completed-77-coronavirus-tests-WEEK.html


49 posted on 03/12/2020 5:25:28 PM PDT by setter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MAGAthon

The confusion in that article was on how and when to refer patients for Covid-19 testing. It is not hard to get patients tested in that there are kits. We are doing a much worse job of making testing kits available.


50 posted on 03/12/2020 5:30:41 PM PDT by socalgop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

If you don’t have test kits in the desired numbers then you can’t test for the virus. Singapore and South Korea had the numbers so they tested.


51 posted on 03/12/2020 5:39:07 PM PDT by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: TLI

We are 10 days behind Italy in spread rate, and further behind others touted for testing. We sent test kits to some of those countries and they have not been replaced. I suspect many are sourced from China at this point... not a good idea.


52 posted on 03/12/2020 5:41:41 PM PDT by Ingtar (Biden needs 50.25%, Sanders 57.82% remain delegates. 52 outstanding. Found spreadsheet error.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: carriage_hill

lol

you just described 85 percent off my body’s makeup :)


53 posted on 03/12/2020 5:42:18 PM PDT by dp0622 (Radicals, racists Don't point fingers at me I'm a small town white boy Just tryin to make ends meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Testing kits? Whining about this crap? How many kits caught the flu that has already killed 10,000 Americans this year so far?

Oh yeah, NONE!

Calm the F down crybaby.


54 posted on 03/12/2020 5:45:53 PM PDT by Fledermaus (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC! Someone sneezed. Shut down everything. Cowards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fhayek

Where do yuou live? Liberal land?

I was in two grocery stores today. No shortage of anything.


55 posted on 03/12/2020 5:48:17 PM PDT by Fledermaus (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC! Someone sneezed. Shut down everything. Cowards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Fledermaus
Where do you live? Liberal land?

Yes.

56 posted on 03/12/2020 5:49:31 PM PDT by fhayek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: MAGAthon

Mega lies. “Gift sick”? Prove it. He “supposedly” just tested positive. That’s not sickness.

Publicity stunt. Otherwise who the hell cares?


57 posted on 03/12/2020 5:51:12 PM PDT by Fledermaus (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC! Someone sneezed. Shut down everything. Cowards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: fhayek

I went to a Walmart Superstore today that’s about a half-hour from where I live. On every aisle, workers were stocking the shelves, and I found everything I needed (all food). I was amazed to see so many people stocking the shelves, because at my local Walmart Superstore, the shelves have been empty for the past two+ years.


58 posted on 03/12/2020 5:52:04 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NittanyLion

Screw “tests”.

Get real.


59 posted on 03/12/2020 5:52:12 PM PDT by Fledermaus (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC! Someone sneezed. Shut down everything. Cowards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: setter; RummyChick; Vermont Lt

RE: CDC has only done 77 test since March 5th.. This is incompetence at the highest level.

Hang on for a moment... how is it the responsibility to TEST people?

They’re supposed to be DISTRIBUTING their test kits and the STATES are responsible for testing their residents.

Centralized testing in DC should not be the intent.

There’s something wrong with that report.


60 posted on 03/12/2020 5:54:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-116 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson