Increasing COVID Testing?

[Dcurrie911]

I’m confused. President Biden wants to spend an additional 1.6 Billion to increase testing, yet according to the CDC web site the daily numbers are decreasing drastically. Why?

CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases)

[Dcurrie911]

It is odd that no one is responding. For months all we have heard is how bad the numbers are are how we are in for a long dark winter. Yet when the CDC numbers show favorable. Not only favorable but great. No one seems to take note. Perhaps if we increase testing we can turn the graph around and achieve that bleak forecast.....

[Aloha1]

Testing means nothing and is only a snapshot at that point in time. The only people who should be tested are those who are experiencing symptoms and those who may have been exposed to someone with Covid. Test me today and I'm negative. Doesn't mean that I might be positive tomorrow.
Testing everyone is a waste of money and personnel resources . But some people think it's a great thing because "something is being done", go figure.

[Bill14564]

The numbers are improving, just as they did in May and August. Maybe the third time is the charm but I'm going to hold off a bit before celebrating.

It doesn't seem as though lack of testing is a big problem today or that increased testing is a solution.

[billethkid]

The numbers are improving, just as they did in May and August. Maybe the third time is the charm but I'm going to hold off a bit before celebrating.

It doesn't seem as though lack of testing is a big problem today or that increased testing is a solution.

And hopefully we will see an impact of the vaccine inoculations as they continues to ramp up.

[Bucco]

I’m confused. President Biden wants to spend an additional 1.6 Billion to increase testing, yet according to the CDC web site the daily numbers are decreasing drastically. Why?

CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases)

Pretty well been laid out...

“Biden has laid out a $50 billion plan that would boost the nation's testing capacity through the increase of rapid antigen tests, testing centers, expand lab test processing, provide uniform guidance for in-school COVID testing and establish a national pandemic testing board.”

Crushing the coronavirus: What'''s Biden'''s '''clear, unified approach''' on testing? - ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/crushing-coronavirus-bidens-clear-unified-approach-testing/story?id=75516056)

“According to the Rockefeller Foundation, the United States needs 193 million tests monthly for schools and nursing homes "to open safely and in stages" -- a threshold the nation has never reached.”

There is now a National Plan

[Joe V.]

There is now a National Plan

... to waste more taxpayer money on feel good boondoggles.

[Bucco]

... to waste more taxpayer money on feel good boondoggles.

Like, or is a National Plan in your mind a bad thing ?

[Cobullymom]

I’m confused. President Biden wants to spend an additional 1.6 Billion to increase testing, yet according to the CDC web site the daily numbers are decreasing drastically. Why?

CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases)
Absolutely a huge waste of money, testing has been inaccurate all along, and a test is only as good as the moment it’s taken...2 hrs later someone could be exposed...it’s ridiculous...I know people who spend their lives being tested and tested...for what? If your having symptoms, get treated, and stay away from people till your better...If you want the vaccines get one, if you don’t thats your right. But we need to move on as a country...I’m sicker from listening to Covid crap every day, then the disease itself....and he is easily confused, and therefore confuses the country....

[J1ceasar]

The so called experts don't know a damn thing. The most recent expert on TV contradicted himself in the first two sentences. winter was supposed to get better cuz we were supposed to be in less contact with people outside due to the cold weather, the rate of infection in Florida is one half that of California and yet they're locked down and we aren't. Florida has less and is now at the top of the scale as far as giving shots. It proves you don't give politicians a chance to spend your money because they will just spend it yes this is not a political comment it's not yay or nay against anybody because they're all stupid at the end of the day

[allsport]

Because the only way to keep the numbers down is to stay on top of outbreaks and that can only be done by testing.

[Byte1]

Adding more to testing right now is nothing more than a political posturing. The vaccinations have been rolling out as they are produced and each state has their own responsibility to distribute the vaccine. If you are on the fence about getting the vaccination, you better think fast because with the thousands of illegal aliens being allowed into the country now, you better be prepared for a major increase in the spread of the multiple versions of the virus.
Too bad, handling the pandemic had to be so political.

[Sailohio]

I’m confused. President Biden wants to spend an additional 1.6 Billion to increase testing, yet according to the CDC web site the daily numbers are decreasing drastically. Why?

CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases)

If you look at the actual allocations for the funds you will see most of the funds are going to non-Covid related organizations and States to bail out their bad decisions from the past. It is the way it is done in DC.

[dhdallas]

Testing means nothing and is only a snapshot at that point in time. The only people who should be tested are those who are experiencing symptoms and those who may have been exposed to someone with Covid. Test me today and I'm negative. Doesn't mean that I might be positive tomorrow.
Testing everyone is a waste of money and personnel resources . But some people think it's a great thing because "something is being done", go figure.

Exactly. Even if you do have it, then what? Have some chicken soup & ride it out because there is no cure. Unless you are having serious breathing difficulties that require hospital admission & a ventilator, testing is pointless & a waste of money.

I was employed in the healthcare & emergency services during the 9/11 terrorism attacks. The government threw a ridiculous amount of money at every city and town, no matter how small or remote, to be used for terrorist attack response. To date over $2.8 trillion has been spent on anti terrorism measures.

I lived in a small N/W PA town of about 5000 people. We received thousands of dollars to buy “moon suits”, respirators, drugs to counteract the effects of ricin, training seminars led by highly paid lecturers, etc. A local ambulance service even got enough money to relocate its dispatch room from a corner room to an interior room to be less susceptible from an attack.

It was always good for a laugh every year when our hospital would get out one of the two moon suits and we would watch some unlucky employee struggle for about a half-hour to put it on. Trust me, no one would ever mount a terrorist attack on this town.

Now we are seeing the same “knee-jerk” reaction to COVID-19. Since March last year, the federal government has already enacted two big COVID relief bills affecting elementary and secondary education, and there is another, colossal bill on the way. The bills provide nearly $212 billion for K-12 schools. This is a huge sum considering that in a normal year – 2018 – we spent a total of $832 billion on elementary and secondary education.

The relief far exceeds the need. The CDC estimated in December that the cost of providing full anti‐​COVID measures in schools, including materials and staff, is about $442 per student – roughly one‐​ninth of what public schools could receive from all relief efforts. In other words, schools are getting approximately 9 times as much money they actually need. Think they might give any of that surplus back? Guess again.

CNBC reported today it is expected that the U.S. will spend $4 billion on international Covid vaccination efforts. Not on vaccinating U.S. citizens but for vaccinating the rest of the world; but all those foreign countries love the U.S. don’t they?

Probably sooner rather than later as a direct result of overall runaway spending and ignoring the monstrous budget deficit, this economy is going to crash like never seen before. The 1929 stock market crash will look like a minor market correction in comparison. Inflation will soar to the point where the U.S. dollar will be almost (or even) completely worthless. Failed economies have brought about the destruction of many powerful nations and empires throughout history. We are not immune to suffering the same fate.

Will reckless COVID spending be the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back”? Time will tell.

Sources-
CNBC
CDC
The Cato Institute - a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
The Stimson Study Group on Counterterrorism Spending - directed by Stimson
Fellow Laicie Heeley, consisted of these six senior-level participants who have
backgrounds from stakeholder constituencies including the U.S. government,
academia, and the private sector

[Bucco]

Exactly. Even if you do have it, then what? Have some chicken soup & ride it out because there is no cure. Unless you are having serious breathing difficulties that require hospital admission & a ventilator, testing is pointless & a waste of money.

I was employed in the healthcare & emergency services during the 9/11 terrorism attacks. The government threw a ridiculous amount of money at every city and town, no matter how small or remote, to be used for terrorist attack response. To date over $2.8 trillion has been spent on anti terrorism measures.

I lived in a small N/W PA town of about 5000 people. We received thousands of dollars to buy “moon suits”, respirators, drugs to counteract the effects of ricin, training seminars led by highly paid lecturers, etc. A local ambulance service even got enough money to relocate its dispatch room from a corner room to an interior room to be less susceptible from an attack.

It was always good for a laugh every year when our hospital would get out one of the two moon suits and we would watch some unlucky employee struggle for about a half-hour to put it on. Trust me, no one would ever mount a terrorist attack on this town.

Now we are seeing the same “knee-jerk” reaction to COVID-19. Since March last year, the federal government has already enacted two big COVID relief bills affecting elementary and secondary education, and there is another, colossal bill on the way. The bills provide nearly $212 billion for K-12 schools. This is a huge sum considering that in a normal year – 2018 – we spent a total of $832 billion on elementary and secondary education.

The relief far exceeds the need. The CDC estimated in December that the cost of providing full anti‐​COVID measures in schools, including materials and staff, is about $442 per student – roughly one‐​ninth of what public schools could receive from all relief efforts. In other words, schools are getting approximately 9 times as much money they actually need. Think they might give any of that surplus back? Guess again.

CNBC reported today it is expected that the U.S. will spend $4 billion on international Covid vaccination efforts. Not on vaccinating U.S. citizens but for vaccinating the rest of the world; but all those foreign countries love the U.S. don’t they?

Probably sooner rather than later as a direct result of overall runaway spending and ignoring the monstrous budget deficit, this economy is going to crash like never seen before. The 1929 stock market crash will look like a minor market correction in comparison. Inflation will soar to the point where the U.S. dollar will be almost (or even) completely worthless. Failed economies have brought about the destruction of many powerful nations and empires throughout history. We are not immune to suffering the same fate.

Will reckless COVID spending be the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back”? Time will tell.

Sources-
CNBC
CDC
The Cato Institute - a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
The Stimson Study Group on Counterterrorism Spending - directed by Stimson
Fellow Laicie Heeley, consisted of these six senior-level participants who have
backgrounds from stakeholder constituencies including the U.S. government,
academia, and the private sector

To your comment on the deficit....

I could not agree more. I have been beating this drum for about 3 years now, but seems those elected don't give a hoot. We were told it's no problem for the last years, and for once i hope they had a secret response because i agree totally that the deficit, heretofore totally ignored, will bite us

While I agree with you on the problem, the cause precedes Covid aid. If you check the deficit numbers, I think you will find that to be true

[clekr]

Simple! They want their sheep to think they are doing something. The visual of spending money is important than the substance.

[Girlcopper]

Testing means nothing and is only a snapshot at that point in time. The only people who should be tested are those who are experiencing symptoms and those who may have been exposed to someone with Covid. Test me today and I'm negative. Doesn't mean that I might be positive tomorrow.
Testing everyone is a waste of money and personnel resources . But some people think it's a great thing because "something is being done", go figure.
Totally agree. Ive had friends say they tested negative a week ago. So? Whatabout today??

[DAVES]

I’m confused. President Biden wants to spend an additional 1.6 Billion to increase testing, yet according to the CDC web site the daily numbers are decreasing drastically. Why?

CDC COVID Data Tracker (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases)

As to confused-we all are.

The numbers. We accept what we are fed. As far as I know our country, and/or the world has not gathered valid numbers as a base line. It would require a large group covering all age, race etc and recording the number of positive covid 19s in that group.

If, we recall, originally, to get a test you had to be showing symptoms. Using that as an
average baseline of course the only way for it to go is down.

As to money, effort etc. Fortunately it is not my job, a thankless job to be sure, to make the decisions but, in my opinion spending limited resources, yes, everything has a limit,
on tests or vaccines clearly I would vote for vaccines.

Aside, a covid test. What does it even mean? You could arrive to get the test done and catch covid 19 while you are there.

People, all of us, including me are in a panic. Sadly, read the posts, many remind me of the movie Titanic. Women and children first. Hey, Mildred which one of your wigs look best on me?

[DAVES]

Simple! They want their sheep to think they are doing something. The visual of spending money is important than the substance.

Like it or not people need to think leaders are in control. In this case,"spending money."
Imagine if they said we know from history, this too will run it's course. Most of the deaths are old people-me. We can fix the imbalance of social security and control population growth and just let it run.

We all tend to think what is good for me and to heck with anyone who is not me.
We all, at least I do, find it easier to complain than to actually do anything.

[jimjamuser]

It is odd that no one is responding. For months all we have heard is how bad the numbers are are how we are in for a long dark winter. Yet when the CDC numbers show favorable. Not only favorable but great. No one seems to take note. Perhaps if we increase testing we can turn the graph around and achieve that bleak forecast.....
It's pretty simple, the tests were taking 1 to 4 days to return results - people lost patience - and the test results of just one test were not accurate enough to be valuable. People became smart enough to NOT want to pay for a MEANINGLESS test. If the test was FREE and required where you worked and done on some regular basis (say once per week), then the results could be somewhat ACTIONABLE. Those factors made people stop wanting to be tested. Plus the US is experiencing the highest CV cases and problems in the world. So, with CV everywhere, there is little ability to fight CV by contact tracing and quarantining - so, why bother to get tested? If the money in the new proposed CV bill can produce tests with a 4-hour turnover or less to get results, then people MAY (?) re-evaluate their desire to get tested. Other countries were able to get many tests out early in the pandemic. They then were able to contact trace and their people did not resist quarantining - so their result was much better than the US result.

[Bucco]

Like it or not people need to think leaders are in control. In this case,"spending money."
Imagine if they said we know from history, this too will run it's course. Most of the deaths are old people-me. We can fix the imbalance of social security and control population growth and just let it run.

We all tend to think what is good for me and to heck with anyone who is not me.
We all, at least I do, find it easier to complain than to actually do anything.

1. Have you read the plan put out ? I am not in accord with it 100% for sure, but at least we now have a plan.
Testing is a small portion of the plan, and seems to be aimed at insuring safe public schools.

2. Money......the money proposed is to get our economy on the road once again, and to help the states who were asked to do so much that was not allowed in individual state budgets.

I applaud discussion and disagreement on the plan, but please read the plan and know of what you speak. States have been under enormous pressure for a year.....economy stretched to a breaking point and all of this began as we had the largest single budget deficit in history.

Great to have different opinions, but would love to hear about the differences specifically , instead of a simple trite comment.

YES....money needs to be spent......not one economist that I am aware of would disagree.

[Roron123]

It’s because 55% of the country have “natural immunity” because they contracted Covid! Simple. Vaccines do not prevent one from getting or giving Covid!

[merrymini]

Waste of money to test.
Numbers are coming down but not due to vaccines, not enough people have been vaccinated.
Spend spend spend.

[jnieman]

It is odd that no one is responding. For months all we have heard is how bad the numbers are are how we are in for a long dark winter. Yet when the CDC numbers show favorable. Not only favorable but great. No one seems to take note. Perhaps if we increase testing we can turn the graph around and achieve that bleak forecast.....

The numbers have gone down I read because the holidays are over and big gatherings are not happening like they were before. It could also be that more people are getting vaccinated. With all the new strains that are floating around now they need to be able to track those with testing. My daughter in law, son and both of my 9 year old twin grandchildren now have just been diagnosed with Covid in West Palm.

[Joe V.]

Like, or is a National Plan in your mind a bad thing ?

This "national plan" certainly is. Thanks for responding.

[blueash]

It’s because 55% of the country have “natural immunity” because they contracted Covid! Simple. Vaccines do not prevent one from getting or giving Covid!

The entire purpose of vaccines is to prevent one from getting Covid, and as a side benefit if you don't get Covid you don't spread it. The over 90% efficacy of the vaccines completely refutes your claim. Simple.

And of course the 55% speaks to your understanding of numbers and evidence. There have been 28 million positive covid tests as of today. While some people certainly had Covid and were never tested, and some of the tested have false positives, the population of the US is 328 million, and if 55% have been already infected that would require 180 million people to have had Covid. Simple.

[blueash]

The numbers have gone down I read because the holidays are over and big gatherings are not happening like they were before. It could also be that more people are getting vaccinated. With all the new strains that are floating around now they need to be able to track those with testing. My daughter in law, son and both of my 9 year old twin grandchildren now have just been diagnosed with Covid in West Palm.

I hope your family members completely recover quickly. The direction of the number of new cases is very encouraging. But, the daily new cases number is at a level above but nearly identical to that which occurred through the summer and fall of 2020 when how serious this pandemic was clear to almost everyone. With the new varieties which have emerged we can only hope that the downward trend will continue, but we do not yet know.

[dadoiron]

... to waste more taxpayer money on feel good boondoggles.

Should focus solely on vaccine issue as this was the previous administrations plan and made the most practical sense.

FYI had a relative back North test negative feeling very poorly went back two days later to only test positive - no change in course of treatment recommended (since they are younger just watch closely).

Therefore testing really is not very helpful and wasteful for those not having difficulty.

Vaccines can prevent the disease and transmission so why wouldn't that be the sole imperative focus immediately?

[Bucco]

This "national plan" certainly is. Thanks for responding.

Exactly what part of the plan do you dislike ? Details please

Those who continually harp on testing forget a lot and do not read.

Testing is there to get our schools back

[Bucco]

Thanks for the invite but:

The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

Yet you took the time to indicate that either “the”
or just any National plan would not be good.

As a true conservative, I certainly do not advocate all of it, but welcome any plan to get us off the snide.

But in any case, you do not feel compelled to read it, but only to criticize totally, and that is your right.

This thread was supposed to be about testing. Folks still going back and forth without even acknowledging the context of the testing part, which is to be used to get our schools up and running on a steady national basis. So much has been dumped on the states in the past year, helping them seems a great idea. Everyone is complaining about the schools, yet oppose a national plan to get serious about getting them back where they belong.

[flflowers]

Absolutely a huge waste of money, testing has been inaccurate all along, and a test is only as good as the moment it’s taken...2 hrs later someone could be exposed...it’s ridiculous...I know people who spend their lives being tested and tested...for what? If your having symptoms, get treated, and stay away from people till your better...If you want the vaccines get one, if you don’t thats your right. But we need to move on as a country...I’m sicker from listening to Covid crap every day, then the disease itself....and he is easily confused, and therefore confuses the country....
I agree....I am going to list PCR testing comments from doctors in bullet point form

ALL FOR A VIRUS THAT HAS NEVER TRUTHFULLY INDENTIFIED. NEVER, NO ONE HAS EVER "ISOLATED" AND PURIFIED THE VIRUS!! SCIENCE BASED ON OVER 20 YEARS OF RESEARCH...Even the CDC states " NO QUALIFYING ISOLATES ARE AVAILABLE"
*Pfizer states "to build an RNA vaccine, scientists do NOT need the ACTUAL VIRUS"

*if you do not ISOLATE the virus you can not say it is a disease
Making policy decisions on this false testing is TRAGIC, COMPLETELY UNETHICAL

*Even the creator of the test says it's wrong test to use, it's the wrong technology

*PCR test does not actually show the presence of the virus

* PCR testing is a scientific FRAUD

*FDA did not require the specific question of viral presence and when it is not there, what is it amplifying??

*PCR is NOT a diagnostic test. They can amplify the test to as much as they want to get the number of positives up. The more they amplify or "copy", the more residual RNA and DNA from previous infections show up..."amplifying over 35 should be disqualified

* if you amplify the test enough, everyone would test positive
* Drive up testing is so out of the box...

*over estimating virus because of this

*it's a quick and easy test for the "bean counters" to access the populous, much slower to have a pracitioner to access the patient! AND PATIENTS ARE NOT BEING ACCESSED

*People are dying because of misdiagnosis(in several different ways) if they are testing for corona virus, they should ALSO be testing for bacterial pneumonia!

*inserts to the PCR test--positives do not rule out OTHER BACTERIAL INFECTIONS, OR CO-INFECTIONS AND OTHER VIRUSES

*Statistical slight of hand...misdiagnosing and mistreating so death rate is not clear

* you have to have the "number" to release the MONEY--another issue

* on live television test of covid was POSITIVE on a can of coke a cola, on fruit and a goat

*PCR testing to open up schools??? are you kidding me? after all you just read

* a very sad example, just one of thousands....33year old woman brought to emergency room due to sick, was TREATED for COVID even though 12 tests were NEGETIVE, the medical staff could just not move past COVID and do other testing...she died of acute leukemia that she could have survived had they been able to think other than COVID

*Government has taken decisions away from doctors, and doctors now facing risk of losing job for even questioning and speaking out! this is what we have become

[flflowers]

Like, or is a National Plan in your mind a bad thing ?

The following statements by Dr. Derick Knauss on the identity of the virus and on the failures of the PCR test are corroborated by numerous scientific studies including the WHO. See the text by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky at the foot of Dr. Knauss’ article * I have a PhD in virology and immunology. I’m a clinical lab scientist and have tested 1500 “supposed” positive Covid 19 samples collected here in S. California. When my lab team and I did the testing through Koch’s postulates and observation under a SEM (scanning electron microscope), we found NO Covid in any of the 1500 samples. What we found was that all of the 1500 samples were mostly Influenza A and some were influenza B, but not a single case of Covid, and we did not use the B.S. PCR test.

We then sent the remainder of the samples to Stanford, Cornell, and a few of the University of California labs and they found the same results as we did, NO COVID. They found influenza A and B. All of us then spoke to the CDC and asked for viable samples of COVID, which CDC said they could not provide as they did not have any samples. We have now come to the firm conclusion through all our research and lab work, that the COVID 19 was imaginary and fictitious. The flu was called Covid and most of the 225,000 dead were dead through co-morbidities such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, emphysema etc. and they then got the flu which further weakened their immune system and they died. I have yet to find a single viable sample of Covid 19 to work with.

We at the 7 universities that did the lab tests on these 1500 samples are now suing the CDC for Covid 19 fraud. the CDC has yet to send us a single viable, isolated and purifed sample of Covid 19. If they can’t or won’t send us a viable sample, I say there is no Covid 19, it is fictitious. The four research papers that do describe the genomic extracts of the Covid 19 virus never were successful in isolating and purifying the samples. All the four papers written on Covid 19 only describe small bits of RNA which were only 37 to 40 base pairs long which is NOT A VIRUS. A viral genome is typically 30,000 to 40,000 base pairs.

With as bad as Covid is supposed to be all over the place, how come no one in any lab world wide has ever isolated and purified this virus in its entirety? That’s because they’ve never really found the virus, all they’ve ever found was small pieces of RNA which were never identified as the virus anyway. So what we’re dealing with is just another flu strain like every year, COVID 19 does not exist and is fictitious. I believe China and the globalists orchestrated this COVID hoax (the flu disguised as a novel virus) to bring in global tyranny and a worldwide police totalitarian surveillance state, and this plot included massive election fraud to overthrow Trump.

Dr. Derek Knauss is a clinical lab specialist focussing on virology and immunology. He is based in Southern California.

[Bill14564]

Very long post with some context deleted for space.

So what we’re dealing with is just another flu strain like every year, COVID 19 does not exist and is fictitious. I believe China and the globalists orchestrated this COVID hoax (the flu disguised as a novel virus) to bring in global tyranny and a worldwide police totalitarian surveillance state, and this plot included massive election fraud to overthrow Trump.

Dr. Derek Knauss is a clinical lab specialist focussing on virology and immunology. He is based in Southern California.

And that right there (highlighted) is pretty much all that we need to know about Dr. Derek Knauss.

But entertaining him just for a moment, are there or are there not 490,000 more Americans dead in the past 12 months then in the 12 preceding that and the 12 months preceding that? Has this year's flu strain been that much more deadly or are there that many people lying about the number of dead? If it *is* that deadly, does it matter if it's called Covid or if it's called the Killer Flu? One way or another we need to stop it before it kills another 500,000!

[Hifred]

Testing is an important component to stopping the virus as up to 1/3 of those spreading the virus are asymptomatic. It is important for schools to reopen safely that they have testing and can quickly identify faculty, staff and children who are transmitters of the virus. For travel it is also important to be able to quickly check for covid before allowing people on planes. You have to ramp up testing to identify sources of the virus so you can stop the spread. In 2020 covid was spreading without testing because many who were spreading it didn't know they had it and did not quarantine themselves.

[golfing eagles]

It’s because 55% of the country have “natural immunity” because they contracted Covid! Simple. Vaccines do not prevent one from getting or giving Covid!

Another lemming parroting that same line over and over.

SOURCE PLEASE

National Enquirer???

[coffeebean]

Exactly. Even if you do have it, then what? Have some chicken soup & ride it out because there is no cure. Unless you are having serious breathing difficulties that require hospital admission & a ventilator, testing is pointless & a waste of money.........................



Well, my understanding is that if a person has a positive test result, that person is to quarantine for 10 days. Isn't that one reason for testing?

[jimjamuser]

Because the only way to keep the numbers down is to stay on top of outbreaks and that can only be done by testing.
When CV cases go down, it will be possible to use testing to start contact tracing.

[jimjamuser]

Exactly. Even if you do have it, then what? Have some chicken soup & ride it out because there is no cure. Unless you are having serious breathing difficulties that require hospital admission & a ventilator, testing is pointless & a waste of money.

I was employed in the healthcare & emergency services during the 9/11 terrorism attacks. The government threw a ridiculous amount of money at every city and town, no matter how small or remote, to be used for terrorist attack response. To date over $2.8 trillion has been spent on anti terrorism measures.

I lived in a small N/W PA town of about 5000 people. We received thousands of dollars to buy “moon suits”, respirators, drugs to counteract the effects of ricin, training seminars led by highly paid lecturers, etc. A local ambulance service even got enough money to relocate its dispatch room from a corner room to an interior room to be less susceptible from an attack.

It was always good for a laugh every year when our hospital would get out one of the two moon suits and we would watch some unlucky employee struggle for about a half-hour to put it on. Trust me, no one would ever mount a terrorist attack on this town.

Now we are seeing the same “knee-jerk” reaction to COVID-19. Since March last year, the federal government has already enacted two big COVID relief bills affecting elementary and secondary education, and there is another, colossal bill on the way. The bills provide nearly $212 billion for K-12 schools. This is a huge sum considering that in a normal year – 2018 – we spent a total of $832 billion on elementary and secondary education.

The relief far exceeds the need. The CDC estimated in December that the cost of providing full anti‐​COVID measures in schools, including materials and staff, is about $442 per student – roughly one‐​ninth of what public schools could receive from all relief efforts. In other words, schools are getting approximately 9 times as much money they actually need. Think they might give any of that surplus back? Guess again.

CNBC reported today it is expected that the U.S. will spend $4 billion on international Covid vaccination efforts. Not on vaccinating U.S. citizens but for vaccinating the rest of the world; but all those foreign countries love the U.S. don’t they?

Probably sooner rather than later as a direct result of overall runaway spending and ignoring the monstrous budget deficit, this economy is going to crash like never seen before. The 1929 stock market crash will look like a minor market correction in comparison. Inflation will soar to the point where the U.S. dollar will be almost (or even) completely worthless. Failed economies have brought about the destruction of many powerful nations and empires throughout history. We are not immune to suffering the same fate.

Will reckless COVID spending be the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back”? Time will tell.

Sources-
CNBC
CDC
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......I disagree with the statement, "the relief far exceeds the need". Interest rates are very low, so now is a very good time for the Federal Government to borrow. After the subprime financial meltdown, Congress appropriated TOO LITTLE stimulus money. The economy was SLOW to recover. It is hard to pin down today's exact NEED for stimulus. It is probably better to do too much than too LITTLE. WE have over 500,000 DEATHS in the US. Money is just money and the economy can be BUILT, BACK, BETTER (get that one) but, lives, once dead, do NOT come back! We can all agree on that one.
.....I also disagree with the "after 9/11" statements. A small town in NW PA could have had problems with the radiation fallout from a dirty bomb that was placed in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, or Toronto. We are all familiar with the saying, "better safe than sorry".

[jimjamuser]

As to confused-we all are.

The numbers. We accept what we are fed. As far as I know our country, and/or the world has not gathered valid numbers as a base line. It would require a large group covering all age, race etc and recording the number of positive covid 19s in that group.

If, we recall, originally, to get a test you had to be showing symptoms. Using that as an
average baseline of course the only way for it to go is down.

As to money, effort etc. Fortunately it is not my job, a thankless job to be sure, to make the decisions but, in my opinion spending limited resources, yes, everything has a limit,
on tests or vaccines clearly I would vote for vaccines.

Aside, a covid test. What does it even mean? You could arrive to get the test done and catch covid 19 while you are there.

People, all of us, including me are in a panic. Sadly, read the posts, many remind me of the movie Titanic. Women and children first. Hey, Mildred which one of your wigs look best on me?
All of the people are NOT in a panic. Many are very calm and some are calm because they are too oblivious to the seriousness and rapid change of the CV dilemma. There SHOULD have been more panic and action in March 2020. There has been UNNECESSARY panic because of government confusion and outright lies. A TV channel, radio shock jocks, FB, Twitter, and dark web media have fanned the flames of panic with unchecked LIES. The cure is open-mindedness and searching for the truth. Finding TRUTH takes work snd concentration to sift through the lies. There is much more information available today than in (say) 1960, but much of it is deception masquerading as information. Buyer and consumer beware!

[jimjamuser]

Testing is an important component to stopping the virus as up to 1/3 of those spreading the virus are asymptomatic. It is important for schools to reopen safely that they have testing and can quickly identify faculty, staff and children who are transmitters of the virus. For travel it is also important to be able to quickly check for covid before allowing people on planes. You have to ramp up testing to identify sources of the virus so you can stop the spread. In 2020 covid was spreading without testing because many who were spreading it didn't know they had it and did not quarantine themselves.
True in the US, but in say Australia and S. Korea, they quickly got testing going and they contact traced and quarantined early and had good results. They had an advantage in that they were more familiar with Pandemics than here in the US of A. Also, their citizens have better attitudes toward government compliance.