No one is ever going to create a perfect system. If you can then do it, until then we all just have to live with realities. Imagine living a 100 years ago, when little was available and was not forthcoming. Be thankful that progress has been made, instead of complaining that immediate gratification is out of your reach.
But seriously how do we even know that this hoarding going on in hospitals by doctors is a reality, or even better that it is a widespread reality. While I'm certain that there are selfish doctors out there, I think they represent a small minority of the doctor population. However, I would prefer that hospitals are keeping some in supply for hospital staff, for they are on the front lines in this battle. If too many of them perish it won't matter much what might be available, because we may need lifesaving treatment from some other life threatening event, and no one will be available to save our lives in that event.
Just calm down, and protect yourself as well as you can.
I am a 67 year old man that had the top node of his right lung removed due to cancer from the 53 years of smoking that I stupidly engaged in. On top of that I have COPD and emphysema, yet I still don't want to die. I have friends and family that I still want to see and be engaged with. Worrying and panicking does absolutely no good, in fact in does more harm. But the main thing it has never solved any issue anyone faces.
Right now demand far outweighs supply, so unless there is an immediate need and you have no symptoms you are going to be denied.
Let's turn it around. Let's say they just hand these items out to the first that come in and request them. Now you come in and you have symptoms and by golly you unfortunately are confirmed. However, they are sorry to inform you that there are no more because their supply has been exhausted. You leave angry because all these people got what you needed though they did not need it. This way you have a far better change of getting what you actually need, now.
These people you see falling in the streets have had symptoms for days, not hours. I mean if you are given a test today, supposedly from what I have heard, it takes 5 days to get the test results.
I place my faith in the Lord, not mankind to protect me. So far He has. 8>)
Now there is a home testing kit available.
At-home coronavirus tests now available, companies say (Fox News)
As coronavirus testing in the U.S. continues to lag behind that in other highly affected countries such as South Korea, several domestic startups are reportedly launching the first at-home tests.
The products have been greenlit by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under new expedited guidelines to help combat the virus, according to Stat, a health care industry news outlet.
One such test provider is Nurx, a San Francisco-based company best known for home testing products for sexually transmitted infections and birth control, now offers testing kits for COVID-19 through the mail for $181 after prospective customers fill out an online form with their symptoms.
“We don’t look for the severity of symptoms, only the presence of them. They can range from mild to severe,” Nurx spokeswoman Allison Hoffman told SFGate.com. “But, people with truly severe symptoms should also seek immediate care. … In terms of temperature in particular, we determine a fever is 100.4 [degrees] plus.”
After filling out the online survey, Nurx will determine if testing is necessary based on the person’s symptoms and will mail the test via expedited shipping.
Nurx can give customers lab results within 48 hours of receiving the test, SFGate reported.
“We are pivoting from our prior service lines to make this available,” Chris Hall, senior clinical adviser for Nurx, told Stat. “It’s a heavy lift, but we think it’s important.”
nurx@nurxapp
Today we are introducing the first #COVID19 home testing and online consultation service. We’re eager to safely connect people with certain symptoms and risk factors with testing and medical care.
COVID-19 At Home Test Kit - Nurx ™
Nurx and its longstanding home testing lab partner, Molecular Testing Labs, are launching telehealth consultations and home testing for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
But that isn't the real problem. The actually problem is, "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"?
Who will watch the watchers?
I'm 67 also but still able to get along with aches and pains, yet nothing critical or debilitating. Just well controlled Diabetes Type 2, some calcified arterial plaque that I'm working on decreasing but here is a Scots toast to us agesters.
"There's g'aye few like us...
...and they're all dead."