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Thanks! I'm trying to build a mental model of how well that data corresponds to the "on the ground" situation. Evey datum helps. It's likely unknowable, but I'

Thanks! I'm trying to build a mental model of how well that data corresponds to the "on the ground" situation. Evey datum helps. It's likely unknowable, but I'd be curious to know how many of those coming in for COVID tests are being required to test. We all know at this point the symptoms of COVID. It's a generally good idea (as well as the most comfortable option) to avoid the public when ill. Exercising a sick day or call-out option to rest and recoup seems more sensible and causes less risk to the public and the capacity of healthcare institutions than sending every case of the sniffles for a test.

dragontamer 5y ago
> It's likely unknowable, but I'd be curious to know how many of those coming in for COVID tests are being required to test. The data that's important is "percent positive". When the covid19 cases are 5% positive or less, you've got accurate statistics. When its above 5%, then things get less-and-less accurate. That is to say: you want roughly 95% of people getting COVID19 tests to be negative, to ensure you're "counting" as many people as possible. We're at 10%+ positive now. Which means our county is no longer with accurate covid19 counts. --------- Its a local goal that's been emphasized. Test as many cases as possible so that we get as accurate a picture as possible. I'm not sure if this is applicable to the rest of the country. But we really do strive for 5% positive around here, and its kinda bad that we're failing that now... and is highly indicative that we're undercounting cases severely. I mean... 4-hour wait times, amirite? If you've got (maybe) COVID19, and the receptionist says "4-hour wait before your test", will you really sit there? Or will you go home and just take off of work for a few days? Its a natural behavior, but that's the sort of thing that leads to dramatic undercounts of COVID19 during these times.

dragontamer 5y ago

> It's likely unknowable, but I'd be curious to know how many of those coming in for COVID tests are being required to test. The data that's important is "percent positive". When the covid19 cases are 5% positive or less, you've got accurate statistics. When its above 5%, then things get less-and-less accurate. That is to say: you want roughly 95% of people getting COVID19 tests to be negative, to ensure you're "counting" as many people as possible. We're at 10%+ positive now. Which means our county is no longer with accurate covid19 counts. --------- Its a local goal that's been emphasized. Test as many cases as possible so that we get as accurate a picture as possible. I'm not sure if this is applicable to the rest of the country. But we really do strive for 5% positive around here, and its kinda bad that we're failing that now... and is highly indicative that we're undercounting cases severely. I mean... 4-hour wait times, amirite? If you've got (maybe) COVID19, and the receptionist says "4-hour wait before your test", will you really sit there? Or will you go home and just take off of work for a few days? Its a natural behavior, but that's the sort of thing that leads to dramatic undercounts of COVID19 during these times.