3 ms·
Efficiently being able to source a test when needed may serve to reduce the load on the medical system. As of today, if I want a test, my options are * privat
by owenmarshall 5y ago
Efficiently being able to source a test when needed may serve to reduce the load on the medical system.
As of today, if I want a test, my options are
* private seller - hard to source with high demand and expensive for those with limited income
* public test center - availability is a nightmare right now
* medical provider, be it PCP or ER
I don’t personally know how many people are choosing option 3, but anecdotally I have heard from friends and colleagues that they’ve chosen it for when their kids/they are sick.
There’s also an interesting side effect here: every at-home positive is a positive public health authorities won’t know about.
- nradov 5y agoHow will this reduce the load on the medical system? Most ERs already turn away patients who come in asking for a test unless they have severe symptoms.
- frereubu 5y agoBy slowing the spread due to people who test positive at home staying there rather than going out and infecting others. The same number of people may get infected in the end, but it will be over a longer period of time.
- nradov 5y agoToo late. Wastewater surveillance data indicates that the peak Omicron variant infection wave has already peaked in many places. The virus is so contagious that it runs through populations very quickly, just like what happened a few weeks ago in South Africa. By the time these additional test kits are in people's hands they're not going to make much difference. https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater https://www.wsj.com/articles/unable-to-get-covid-19-tests-americans-carry-on-go-to-work-get-on-flights-11641551403 https://www.wsj.com/articles/unable-to-get-covid-19-tests-am...