China Wants You to Have a S**t New Year

 

Coronavirus rapid testing: The bridge to immunisation?

Several nations have started vaccinating their citizens - but the coronavirus is far from beaten - which means detecting the virus is still a prime objective. Testing is key to beating COVID-19. Genetic material from the virus can tell us who is infected, and who needs to be quarantined, to stop it spreading so fast.
 

Slovakia moves to test entire population for coronavirus | DW News

 

While many countries are shutting down their economies as they face troubling increases in COVID 19 cases, Slovakia is trying something different. On Saturday, it started a nation-wide effort aiming to test its entire adult population.

Will free, weekly corona tests keep students and teachers safe?

Schools have been reopening with new measures to keep students and teachers safe -- some offering free, weekly corona tests. Experts warn against 'false negatives' in COVID-19. The World Health Organization has updated its guidance for mask-wearing, as millions of children return to school around the world.

Germany begins mandatory coronavirus tests for travelers

Travelers arriving in Germany are facing mandatory testing for the coronavirus amid a surge in infections across the country. The new rules apply to anyone arriving from around 130 countries and regions deemed to be high-risk. Those who refuse the test could face a fine of up to 25,000 euros.

New Covid and flu tests give results in 90 minutes - Covid-19: Top stories this morning

To test during a pandemic, it takes an airline

Coronavirus VI: Testing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

As experts encourage widespread coronavirus testing, John Oliver discusses exactly how much testing the US has done, the difference between diagnostic and antibody tests, and why we need to do more.

Coronavirus 'reinfections' were false positives, says WHO technical lead

Test results suggesting people in South Korea had been reinfected after recovering from Covid-19 were actually false positives caused by dead lung cells, the World Health Organization's technical lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, has told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show

Trump Again Takes Credit For Coronavirus Successes While Shifting Blame For His Failures

A day after saying reopening the economy would be the charge of state governors, President Donald Trump used his public comments to undermine them. He tweeted support to protesters demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and blamed governors for not having the materials needed to conduct testing for coronavirus

What Mr. Happy Delusional Talk Says And Reality

Since January Donald Trump has down played or dismissed the virulence of the coronavirus. 

  Jan. 22: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” — Trump in a CNBC interview.

Feb. 23: “We have it very much under control in this country.” — Trump in speaking to reporters.

Feb. 24: “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” — Trump in a tweet.

President Donald Trump told a group of governors on Monday that they're responsible for getting the vital medical equipment needed to treat coronavirus patients in their states.

"Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves," Trump told the governors during a phone call, The New York Times reported. "We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Points of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself."

Government watchdog: Hospitals face severe shortages of medical gear, confusing guidance from government

According to the report, one hospital received two shipments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency with protective gear that had expired in 2010. Another hospital system received 1,000 masks from federal and state governments, even though it expected a much larger delivery, and "500 of the masks were for children and therefore unusable for adult staff," the report said. Elastic on N95 masks from one state government reserve had "dry-rotted" and could not be used, it said.

State officials in Alabama, South Carolina and Pennsylvania said they had received expired medical supplies.

Diagnostic testing kits to identify patients or staff members with the virus were also in short supply, according to the inspector general. Hospitals said they were struggling with "a severe shortage of test kits," limiting their ability to monitor the health of patients and staff members, the report said. There were also problems with incomplete testing kits missing nasal swabs or reagents to detect the virus.

"Across the industry millions are needed and we only have hundreds," a hospital administrator was quoted as saying.

Remember both Donald Trump and Mike Pence stated over and over again that there would be millions of test kits and another personal protection gear which has never appeared. 

Common Coronavirus Questions Answered by Dr. V, like "What is a FOMITE?"

Dr. Vuong takes common viewer questions about coronavirus and COVID-19, like fomites, clothing, how coronavirus is transmitted, what treatments are helpful. Is ibuprofen good or bad, plus much more.

Where are the drive-thru COVID-19 testing locations Trump promised? Here they are. All 5 of them

Daily Kos

On Friday, March 13, Donald Trump stood in the Rose Garden of the White House alongside the CEOs of mega-corporations like Walmart, Target, and Walgreens. Together they announced there would be nationwide testing done in the parking lots of the huge retailers. Huzzah! Only days after the market tanked because of coronavirus fears and whole industries shut their doors, this was welcome news and the market responded. The Dow Jones jumped 1,985 points over the previous Friday.

Nearly three weeks later, where are all these critical drive-thru testing locations? I could link to a website to find the one closest to you, but there are only five locations. According to CNN, those three retailers have more than 30,000 locations, but only five are set up for drive-thru testing: “One drive-thru at a CVS in Massachusetts, three at two Walmarts and a Walgreens in the Chicago area and another at a Rite Aid in Philadelphia.”

Here’s another little glitch: CNN reports testing in those locations is still very limited. “Almost all of the locations are offering coronavirus testing only to first responders and health care workers, and some offer it only to those who fall under those categories and are showing symptoms.”

Not to take anything away from those health care workers and first responders, because they absolutely, positively need to be tested, but we also need mass testing to figure out where we are in this pandemic. As CNN notes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has tested approximately 34,000 people after various community centers, but that is a drop in the bucket for a nation of 327,000,000 people. 

Like all things Trump, that March 13 press conference in the Rose Garden was more about creating the appearance of effective leadership and strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. The CEOs were little more than props in a made-for-television production. The reality is this is one more failed test of the reality show president.

And be fair, these CEOs could be doing a lot more, starting with guaranteed sick leave for all employees (now and forever) and protective gear for all front-facing employees.

At the end of the day, forget four more years of this reality buffoon. There are many days where I question whether we can withstand four more months of this deadly incompetence.