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I don't think it's intentionally misleading, but it is disappointing, how even the 'beat' reporters on this issue of intense international interest don't ask ab
by gojomo 7y ago
I don't think it's intentionally misleading, but it is disappointing, how even the 'beat' reporters on this issue of intense international interest don't ask about, or highlight, the open questions, like:
* were these PCR tests (of active viral RNA presence) or antibody tests (of past infection). It's probably the former, meaning 600 cases is a floor, maybe a low floor, on the total number of infected plus recovered.
* the timeframes of testing, & to what extent testing-windows overlap all those who earlier reported symptoms/concern – & any followup to see who was merely pre-symptomatic.
* the total impact on the crew in terms of deaths and serious cases. (Mentioning 1 recent death and 5 current hospitalizations doesn't reveal how many total hospitalizations, or serious ICU/ventilator cases.)
Maybe some of this is because the Navy is holding back details (possibly for legitimate operational reasons). Maybe these wire reporters are stuck rewriting limited primary material released as someone else's press-release or transcript. But it's frustrating when the obvious next questions haven't even been asked or acknowledged.