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'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
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To: dp0622

LMAO!


61 posted on 03/12/2020 5:54:08 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: fhayek
I'll pray for you. 🙏
62 posted on 03/12/2020 5:55:01 PM PDT by Fledermaus (PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC PANIC! Someone sneezed. Shut down everything. Cowards.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Up until this week, the CDC had to “confirm” tests. That why you saw the term “presumptive cases.”

The CDC tried to monopolize the process, whereas other countries turn to the private sector. It took off and got out of hand.


63 posted on 03/12/2020 5:56:16 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Here in Washington state the University of Washington lab has tested over 4,300 as of today. Each day they find about 100 who test positive out of each thousand tested.


64 posted on 03/12/2020 5:56:19 PM PDT by angry elephant (My MAGA cap is from a rally in Washingon state in May 2016)
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To: angry elephant

Outdoor it be we cannot get the chemicals from China...???


65 posted on 03/12/2020 5:57:37 PM PDT by Hojczyk
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To: SeekAndFind
The bottom line is, testing is available but at limited number of facilities and as of right now, results take approx. 48 hours.

The influenza flu can be diagnosed within an hour but that's been around for decades. This is a new virus that has been thrown at us and it's going to take time before immediate testing protocols can be in place.

66 posted on 03/12/2020 5:59:19 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I want an impeachment pen)
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To: SeekAndFind

What good does it do to get tested? To tell you that you may get sick?


67 posted on 03/12/2020 5:59:24 PM PDT by jetson
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To: Secret Agent Man
-- I thought debbie resigned from congress. --

Just from heading the DNC.

68 posted on 03/12/2020 5:59:50 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Hojczyk

Maybe after they test everyone here in the Wuhan Washington epicenter we will start distributing tests to the other states.


69 posted on 03/12/2020 5:59:59 PM PDT by angry elephant (My MAGA cap is from a rally in Washingon state in May 2016)
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To: jetson

The only countries that appear to have a handle on this thing so far is S. Korea and Singapore, due to heavy testing, contact tracing and quarantines of contacts.


70 posted on 03/12/2020 6:01:11 PM PDT by LilFarmer
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To: Cboldt

ah.


71 posted on 03/12/2020 6:01:41 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Steely Tom

I’ve never trusted Fauci, and put him in the same category as Jeff Sessions, i.e., a plant by DS to sabotage PDJT. Just sayin’... I could be wrong.


72 posted on 03/12/2020 6:02:59 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam ("Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength" - Corrie ten Boom)
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To: MayflowerMadam

That guy has been in that job for about 30 years.


73 posted on 03/12/2020 6:04:40 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood (https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3804407/posts?q=1&;page=61)
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To: SeekAndFind

Looking at Trump’s tweets it is interesting that he retweeted this article. While Trump is no doubt well aware of CDC incompetence, I think there has probably been a lot of testing done behind the CDC’s back. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-12/a-berlin-biotech-company-got-a-head-start-on-coronavirus-tests?utm_medium=social&utm_content=businessweek&utm_source=twitter&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-businessweek&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic


74 posted on 03/12/2020 6:05:15 PM PDT by TBall
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To: Fledermaus
Doc on Tucker carlson's show said the test doesn't change the treatment. There is no cure, so all the medical industry can do is prescribe treatment, treat the symptoms. Serious enough symptoms require inpatient attention.

Testing doesn't control the spread either. All it can do is inform about the spread, death rate, transmission rate, and if enough tests are done, some idea about infection rate in the general population.

75 posted on 03/12/2020 6:05:39 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Fledermaus

”Screw “tests”. Get real“

Sorry I don’t follow. What do you mean by that?


76 posted on 03/12/2020 6:05:48 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: SeekAndFind
We're failing? You piece of garbage Federal employee! The Chinese covered up the Wuhan Virus or China Flu as I call it (come get me Chinks) and caused a bigger problem than needed to be. Tell the truth!!!!!
77 posted on 03/12/2020 6:10:46 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Gamecock

Do you actually have access to the new tests specific for COVID-19? Our hospital has to send tests to a different city, as of Monday past, anyway.


78 posted on 03/12/2020 6:11:59 PM PDT by omegatoo (You know you'll get your money's worth...become a monthly donor!)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

So only good people keep jobs for long periods of time. Gotcha.


79 posted on 03/12/2020 6:21:01 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam ("Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength" - Corrie ten Boom)
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To: Vermont Lt

RE: Up until this week, the CDC had to “confirm” tests. That why you saw the term “presumptive cases.”

That’s the wrong way to do it.

The reason we have 50 states is in order to DECENTRALIZE work, not centralize all decisions in Washington DC.


80 posted on 03/12/2020 6:21:36 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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