Haenzel Loc: South Holland, The Netherlands

Then we still have 2 years...

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Info from this AM - In NYC, they did a random sample testing of over 3,000 people who had not sought medical care for Covid or been tested before. Nearly 20% tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies. If true, this means that the virus is much more widespread than anyone had guessed. And those who had contact with Covid-19 might have been spewing the virus to others before they began to make antibodies!

We need massive testing for the sake of everyone.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Absolutely.
Look up a video of Dr. Michael Olsterholm recorded yesterday either by name or through MSNBC or CNN.
Very scary.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Last night on the local news they asked people to cooperate with state testing. Apparently even Indiana plans to perform limited random testing before deciding where to go from here.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Extensive, controlled testing and tracking must be done before the gates are opened.
Terrible situation.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

In this case random testing will give us the first view of how many Hoosiers carry antibodies and how many of us are currently infected, essential information to have before making any decisions about relaxing standards.

LoStrunzo

According to the Orange Raccoon there are plenty of testing kits. No problem America.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Let’s at least be honest. I doubt you are counting on me for anything.

As for President Trump and needed supplies I have heard him say he has had companies tool up to produce masks and ventilators.

But on that line have you not heard that Governor Cuomo requested I think 40,000 ventilators which he received but actually only needed about 6,000. NYC hospitals were gearing up for thousands of virus victims, the federal government set up the Javits Center for extra needed emergency beds and equipment. A Navy hospital ship was sent to NYC to accommodate an additional 1000 virus victims. But somehow no matter the good will from President Trump and his assistance with these benefits to victims they were not needed. I can’t speak for you but my understanding is we have many extras of masks and ventilators due to President Trump.

But let me ask a question. Is President Trump the supply master for American medical needs? Don’t hospitals generally have a supply chain already set up? Don’t States themselves have their own supply lines they order from? Surely you are not blaming Trump for some areas not having enough supplies.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I do not disagree with you in the least about testing. But isn’t it true that I can feel great today, can have a test this afternoon, still feeling great and with no fever. Yet in four days I could have a full blown case of the virus even though I wear a mask when out and about. Testing is great when it indicates a positive for the virus. Then the victim should be hospitalized if needed or quarantined. But if it indicates a negative doesn’t that mean only right then?

Dennis

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

There is plenty of blame to go around.
The hospitals become more profitable by keeping spending 'close to the bone.
The states can always find other uses for money.
The federal government is supposed to be "supplier of last resort" but they don't seem to have kept things up.

Thus, when New York looked at the future last month, they saw a Tsunami of cases and no way to prepare for it. Andrew Cuomo was wise to try to prepare, and the people's behavior made things less bad than it had seemed, so they get credit for thinking farther ahead of the curve than actually happened.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

But random testing in the state, such as Indiana is now testing, tells the leadership how many are already 'protected' and they can estimate future needs under various scenarios apart from how what occurs to an
individual.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

They are talking about antibody testing, which tells who has had the infection, recovered and is now immune. They are not talking about the viral antigen test, which can be negative today but positive tomorrow when you're infected.
Positive antibody = safe to re-enter society.
Positive viral antigen = infected and must quarantine.
All this assumes the tests are reliable, which has yet to be proven.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Actually Indiana is using both - that way they can determine what proportion is most likely immune and what proportion is currently infected - two inputs into any decision to reasonably reduce our current behavior standards.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Now the states must bid against each other and even against the federal government for supplies, raising the prices for everyone. That seems like something the federal government could coordinate.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Dennis, The question is - should the President require that the needed medical masks and PPE, the test reagents and whatever else is needed, the production of at least gloves and masks for all US citizens of any state or city, etc. are being filled by the companies that have the ability to produce them or increase their production of them so they are once again on store shelves. These should be made in the USA. If we have to spend money and do spend money, the majority of that money should stay in the USA and create jobs here. We shouldn't have the Governor of a state use his Korean wife to phone another country and keep at it so one state out of 50 has the number of Covid-19 tests that that state or any other state needs anywhere in the USA.

And, did you see or hear or read about any of what was happening with ventilators? Trump allowed state officials across the USA to compete with each other to get ventilators from US or foreign manufacturers, then the Federal Government declared that only the Federal Government could order the ventilators, negating all state 'orders'. Once the ventilators arrived here, our Government did not take possession of the sealed boxes and distribute them the the states that had ordered them. Instead, the Government sent them to wholesalers to sell to the highest bidder, making a last minute and completely unnecessary profit from the American fight against the Covid-19 virus. Or do you agree with any of this????? Patriotic is not a word that comes to mind. Stupid is not the word that comes to mind. Certainly un-American. Certainly appalling. Certainly disgusting.