I read somewhere that if you tested negative for the flu, you were automatically classified to have covid.....
Oh no, just another example of a testing failure.
that would make somewhat some sense especially when there were hardly any tests to be had.
Other than that and since it’s a RAT state...nice try, NY.
Because there were a limited number of the CDC-provided tests in the beginning, the CDC screening protocol required that, in addition to having all the external symptoms, you had to first be tested for flu and have a negative result before they would even consider giving you the COVID-19 screening test. I have also read that they would skip the COVID-19 test if the symptoms were pronounced enough. The test kit shortage has eased off somewhat but the protocol is probably still being followed.
As of the last update (2 April 2019), New York state (NYS) had 92,381 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (88,453 of these cases were in New York City or in the counties immediately surrounding the city.)
NYS cases are 48.2% of the 213,144 confirmed cases in the United States. (NYC region cases alone are 42% of all US cases) Hospitalizations to date are 12,226, making the hospitalization rate 13.23%. Deaths are reported to be 2,576, giving a death rate of 2.78%
These numbers are truly amazing as California, which has three times the population of New York state, only has 9,191 confirmed cases. Hospitalization rate in California is high to very high depending on whether or not you include suspected cases in the calculations. Limited to just confirmed cases, the hospitalization rate is 20.9%. Adding the suspected cases in hospital increases the rate to phenomenal 58.7%. The death rate is 2.24%
Virginia, the state I am in, has about 45% the population of NYS. Virginia has had 1706 cases resulting in 246 hospitalizations and 41 deaths. This gives Virginia a 14.4% hospitalization rate and a 2.4% death rate.
In terms of percentages hospitalized and death rate, the data is consistent across the 3 states: 13-21% of the confirmed cases require hospitalization and 2.2-2.7% of confirmed cases die.
So what you have read is entirely possible in the New York state case. As the data above show, New York state (and New York City in particular) is saddled with a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases. Given the massive case load and the need to get treatment started, automatically assuming worst case makes sense. This is probably resulting in wasting medical resources and supplies in some cases but better that than causing a death through being too cautious.
I have an expectant daughter and her husband living in NYC. So we are praying hard these days.
I am also praying for the decision makers at all levels. There is a lot of pressure right now to get this lockdown/pause phase over with as it is hurting the country badly economically and Americans are unused to having their freedom constrained. It is going to be a big strain on the national psyche to not launch like a rocket as soon as the constraints come off. But, having no vaccine yet, lacking a proven cure (although there is hope in this area)and still awaiting widespread availability of diagnostic kits, this is a situation that we, collectively, must not overlook, miss or allow the compromise of a single step on the recovery path and we have to be diligent in getting them in the correct order, too. No rushing, no wink, wink, bending of the rules for personal reasons, etc. And violators...we are going to have to be firm.
Given his personality, this constraint will be hardest of all on PDJT.
America is going to change as a result of this experience. It will change especially with regard to ease of international travel and doubly especially in many aspects of our relationship with China. It is necessary to do but it is not going to be pleasant.