Coronavirus 4 - Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

[Pies4shaw]

^ Here's a graph of the UK positive testing rate in various locations over time:

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/uk-covid-positivity

The high percentages suggest, really, that they're doing it for diagnostics and to identify outbreaks of COVID separate from the various other common or garden respiratory illnesses that look like it in the early stages. I don't really know what their testing practices are.

Would testing ever become statistically irrelevant, though? - you want to know how much is about, where it is, whether it's the same variant and how much of it is leading to public health impacts (including, but not limited to, hospitalisations, death, time of work etc). Maybe, I'm not sure - I guess that involves a benefit/cost assessment.

[think positive]

Very good point by P4S about sick vaccinated people missing out on treatment due to influx of unvaccinated people. That’s why I asked my friend if , along with rejecting the vaccine she will also reject Medicare. Apparently no because it’s her right to have it. Donor organs don’t just go to the next in line, it depends on your chance of survival.

I got tested yesterday getting a lot of hay fever, negative was back by 8am now I’m in bed with a really bad flu! So yes it still exists!

[Jezza]

I got tested yesterday getting a lot of hay fever, negative was back by 8am now I’m in bed with a really bad flu! So yes it still exists!

I got tested yesterday morning as well.

Received my negative result this morning.

[What'sinaname]

I got tested yesterday getting a lot of hay fever, negative was back by 8am now I’m in bed with a really bad flu! So yes it still exists!

I got tested yesterday morning as well.

Received my negative result this morning.

Outed by testing.

[stui magpie]

^ Here's a graph of the UK positive testing rate in various locations over time:

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/uk-covid-positivity

The high percentages suggest, really, that they're doing it for diagnostics and to identify outbreaks of COVID separate from the various other common or garden respiratory illnesses that look like it in the early stages. I don't really know what their testing practices are.

Would testing ever become statistically irrelevant, though? - you want to know how much is about, where it is, whether it's the same variant and how much of it is leading to public health impacts (including, but not limited to, hospitalisations, death, time of work etc). Maybe, I'm not sure - I guess that involves a benefit/cost assessment.

You make good points, I can see why the UK for example would want to see how much is around so they can use case numbers, hospitalisations and death rates so they can measure impacts and how well their strategy is working.

By this time next year I would expect in Australia that the bulk testing clinics are all closed. If you felt unwell you would go to your GP who depending on your symptoms might write you a referral to go to a Pathology place to get tested.

Using the flu as an example, we make vaccination available to all adults and the only things we measure are vaccination rates, confirmed cases from presentations to Hospital or GP and deaths.

The current testing regime can't be financially viable in future without a clear benefit. It's not just the cost of the testers but the pathology cost and resources being consumed.

[Pies4shaw]

Those are amongst the considerations I would expect people to be taking into account - maybe if the disease is under reasonable control one might move to a much smaller number of standalone testing facilities, at least in the larger population centres and only have "spring ups" if it were necessary in regional areas (outside the few larger cities) to deal with "spot fires". I don't know that we want to be streaming people who might have COVID to the local GP, unless and until we have reached a position where we really think it is a trivial disease. Obviously, it all depends upon what Australia's actual experience will be going forward. At the moment, all we can really do is look at the parts of the world that are "ahead" of us in various ways - eg, more cases, more vaccinations, re-opened etc etc and try to glean a bit of learning from that. Australia needs to get opened up again, as quickly as it can be, once sensible vaccinations thresholds have been reached - but this variant obviously has the potential to spread like wildfire and cause a lot of hospitalisation and death, even with relatively high vaccination rates, so care is required.

[stui magpie]

^
I'd agree with all of that, plus we also need to consider that while there are other countries with high populations and low vaccination rates, other new variants will continue to pop up. That means it's important to at least maintain the capacity to quickly ramp up mass testing even if the day to day reality is that it's much reduced.

[What'sinaname]

So metro Melbourne is completely isolated from regional. Can't even go there to get vaccinated. This is madness.

[eddiesmith]

Good, maybe they can use some concrete barriers on keeping Melburnians out instead of trying to stop kids at the park…

[stui magpie]

Until the vaccination rates increase, it's only sensible for Dan to follow Gladys' lead and only lock down the areas where Covid actually is. Why should regional and rural areas have to be punished?

And sorry bout the state v state, couldn't resist.

But seriously, It's great that the rural and regional areas are less restricted and appropriate that Melbournians can't go there, but many of the regional area businesses rely on tourism from Melbourne, so it may not be financially viable for them to open just for local business.

[Dave The Man]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opini ... 26bb20411b

That because he does not want to make Promises that he might Break

[Jezza]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/how-can-sydney-have-a-plan-to-end-lockdown-but-not-us/news-story/6530f3addf80b4851797d426bb20411b

That because he does not want to make Promises that he might Break

Keep the excuses coming...

[stui magpie]

^

Or it may be that they're operating in foreign territory. They haven't had to plan like this before, it's just been lock down til it goes away

[Dave The Man]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/how-can-sydney-have-a-plan-to-end-lockdown-but-not-us/news-story/6530f3addf80b4851797d426bb20411b

That because he does not want to make Promises that he might Break

Keep the excuses coming...

Well I guess what he wants is to keep us in Lockdown for ever

[Dave The Man]

^

Or it may be that they're operating in foreign territory. They haven't had to plan like this before, it's just been lock down til it goes away

and See what happens in Sydney 1st before making any Permanent Plans

Sydney getting the most Vaccines so they be out about a Month or so Before Melbourne is