What a positive COVID-19 test REALLY means

PeteL said:
I don't think I am misinformed, definitely not trolling. I am trying to understand why we are doing so much testing.
Trying my best to be apolitical, but testing like this makes no sense to me. Looking for a simple explanation.
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The rationale provided by the CDC is that testing to determine who is infected will allow for contact tracing. The more tests that are done the more infected people can quarantine rather than walking around spreading the virus.
 
PeteL said:
I don't think I am misinformed, definitely not trolling. I am trying to understand why we are doing so much testing.
Trying my best to be apolitical, but testing like this makes no sense to me. Looking for a simple explanation.
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The answer is simple, it s a political hot potato, not a health issue. That is why it makes no sense to logical people...
 
PeteL said:
Lets talk about testing again.
So we are testing people just to test. So if they come back negative, great. That day they don't have COVID. But now what? Are they going to test everyone every day? Similarly if you are asymptomatic, and get a positive test, what next? Do you resign yourself to social distancing for the rest of your life? Or do you have to go back for testing until you are negative? Either scenario makes no sense. Widespread testing creates widespread fear, with no payoff, and it seems that you are placing a huge burden on people, labs etc that have to execute the test and process the results. If you are not feeling well, with the known symptoms, by all means get tested. The only numbers that matter in my opinion are How many people are hospitalized with confirmed COVID; How many die, and how many recovered. The number of asymptomatic cases is meaningless, unless you are trying to scare the population. I am trying to understand this, so please enlighten me.
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Pete, you are kind of missing a significant point, as appears many people are. From a sickness of the individual standpoint being identified as asymptomatic means that they have a mild case, and is in that sense good news. The big point is that being asymptomatic seems to be based on the make up of the individual, be it age, or some unknown part of their body. But, and it’s an important but, being asymptomatic means that person can still infect other people. And because a person’s reaction is keyed to them, the people they infect will react based on their physical make up.

So an asymptomatic person who shows no signs can infect infect a eighty year old granny to whom Covid is more likely to be fatal. So testing for all finds these asymptomatic people, makes them aware so they can quarantine themselves, as well watch out for signs of it turning bad. For the asymptomatic person they stay home, take care of themselves and get better.
 
CaptRonn said:
Understand how "cases" are being determined tells the whole story. It's not a one for one test that's either + or -. Also understand that the test are flawed and are producing on average a 30%+ false positive result.

Also we are seeing "Covid19 hospitalizations" in the media constantly, which again is a deceptive number. Why? If someone takes a fall, and goes to a hospital they are administered a covid test upon admittance. If the test shows positive, that person is considered a "covid hospitalization" even though they are asymptomatic and never show signs of the virus, when in fact that's not why they were admitted.

Another huge flaw is those admitted are tested daily (in some areas) and each test is counted as a case, so one person who stays 5 days is counted as 5 cases. There is even some more bizarre methods being used which greatly over inflate the numbers.

Unfortunately the covid19 has turned into a political tool, and thus it's being manipulated for narratives. It would be nice to see and follow the actual numbers, but that is not going to happen. This is why the numbers in the US are so skewed as to what you are seeing elsewhere in the world.
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I hear this rhetoric repeatedly on here but no one is giving any adjusted or better information. Concluding that the information is useless has not been justified. Saying it is, does not make it so. But dead is dead. People that die of cancer often also die because of other complications like pneumonia. They still died of cancer IMO.
 
MonacoMike said:
The answer is simple, it s a political hot potato, not a health issue. That is why it makes no sense to logical people...
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It is absolutely a health issue. It has been politicized, but its a health issue. If you don't think it is, feel free to go down to the local bars and party all night with the kids that share your view. It won't change how you vote, so what could go wrong?
 
Henry Boyd said:
So an asymptomatic person who shows no signs can infect infect a eighty year old granny to whom Covid is more likely to be fatal. So testing for all finds these asymptomatic people, makes them aware so they can quarantine themselves, as well watch out for signs of it turning bad. For the asymptomatic person they stay home, take care of themselves and get better.
Click to expand...

The asymptomatic already are “better” as they are not sick, they then stay home, don’t make money, go broke, because they Might, infect granny.

None of this is scientifically proven. It is just supposition. There was a case where two positive hairdressers had contact with 140+ people and not single one tested Positive. We just do not know.

We cannot even have an informed debate because the science numbers are just not available. The research has not been done. and yet, there are those that want to deprive their fellow countrymen of their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, including making a living for their family because they had contact with someone.

this arrogant influence attitude that so many Americans exhibit is sad. The vast majority of folks who have succumbed to Covid were people who would not have survived 50 years ago, but modern medicine has enabled them to live longer. There are viruses and diseases that exist that could wipe out those gains.

That does not give anyone the right to deprive people of their life and livelihood.
 
Creekwood said:
It is absolutely a health issue. It has been politicized, but its a health issue. If you don't think it is, feel free to go down to the local bars and party all night with the kids that share your view. It won't change how you vote, so what could go wrong?
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it was a health issue, it has been politicized to beyond belief, hospitals have been incentivized to create Covid patients, political parties are mobilizing around the issue. Freedoms are being usurped by power-hungry politicians looking for more control. Don’t tell me it’s a “health” issue.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Pete, you are kind of missing a significant point, as appears many people are. From a sickness of the individual standpoint being identified as asymptomatic means that they have a mild case, and is in that sense good news. The big point is that being asymptomatic seems to be based on the make up of the individual, be it age, or some unknown part of their body. But, and it’s an important but, being asymptomatic means that person can still infect other people. And because a person’s reaction is keyed to them, the people they infect will react based on their physical make up.

So an asymptomatic person who shows no signs can infect infect a eighty year old granny to whom Covid is more likely to be fatal. So testing for all finds these asymptomatic people, makes them aware so they can quarantine themselves, as well watch out for signs of it turning bad. For the asymptomatic person they stay home, take care of themselves and get better.
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We have never done such widespread testing for any other illness. Ever. My point is, every flu season there is no doubt tens of thousands of people who may have been infected, and never showed symptoms. They went on with their lives, and maybe got sick, or didn't or maybe transmitted it, or didn't ..... But this time, we test, and test. So I am negative today, what about tomorrow? When do we stop? What are we going to do? Test everyone every day? It's a virus. It will never go away, it will morph..We are losing our collective minds over this particular event, and I have not seen clear and convincing evidence to support the fear. And no one has successfully explained it to me.
 
JimT said:
The rationale provided by the CDC is that testing to determine who is infected will allow for contact tracing. The more tests that are done the more infected people can quarantine rather than walking around spreading the virus.
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That is a scary scary propositon....I don't want that level of intrusion into my life. Contact tracing sounds (and is) very Orwellian.
 
PeteL said:
We have never done such widespread testing for any other illness. Ever. My point is, every flu season there is no doubt tens of thousands of people who may have been infected, and never showed symptoms. They went on with their lives, and maybe got sick, or didn't or maybe transmitted it, or didn't ..... But this time, we test, and test. So I am negative today, what about tomorrow? When do we stop? What are we going to do? Test everyone every day? It's a virus. It will never go away, it will morph..We are losing our collective minds over this particular event, and I have not seen clear and convincing evidence to support the fear. And no one has successfully explained it to me.
Click to expand...

I asked a question very similar to yours and the crickets are still chirping...
 
MonacoMike said:
The asymptomatic already are “better” as they are not sick, they then stay home, don’t make money, go broke, because they Might, infect granny.

None of this is scientifically proven. It is just supposition. There was a case where two positive hairdressers had contact with 140+ people and not single one tested Positive. We just do not know.

We cannot even have an informed debate because the science numbers are just not available. The research has not been done. and yet, there are those that want to deprive their fellow countrymen of their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, including making a living for their family because they had contact with someone.

this arrogant influence attitude that so many Americans exhibit is sad. The vast majority of folks who have succumbed to Covid were people who would not have survived 50 years ago, but modern medicine has enabled them to live longer. There are viruses and diseases that exist that could wipe out those gains.

That does not give anyone the right to deprive people of their life and livelihood.
Click to expand...


You are right, the entire world medical community who is dealing with this disease is wrong. You argue there is no science, yet instead of following what has been the historical guidance for effectively dealing with infectious diseases for literally centuries, isolate and avoid other people, you respond get on out and mingle.
 
Well.... society allowed this to happen.

I’m convinced Trump only closed the economy due to overwhelming political pressure knowing he would be blamed for every fatality.

This is why I deem this a hoax. I have a birds eye view because I’m in hospitals as part of my work. The healthcare workers you see on the news are in the minority.
There are many more who are not of the thinking that this is “The Killer Virus” it’s made out to be.

If you’re a minority, are obese, have diabetes, or heart condition and you catch a severe flu you’ll be prone to pneumonia which is what kills. Not the virus. It’s your immune systems overreacting to this virus.
 
PeteL said:
We have never done such widespread testing for any other illness. Ever. My point is, every flu season there is no doubt tens of thousands of people who may have been infected, and never showed symptoms. They went on with their lives, and maybe got sick, or didn't or maybe transmitted it, or didn't ..... But this time, we test, and test. So I am negative today, what about tomorrow? When do we stop? What are we going to do? Test everyone every day? It's a virus. It will never go away, it will morph..We are losing our collective minds over this particular event, and I have not seen clear and convincing evidence to support the fear. And no one has successfully explained it to me.
Click to expand...

Pete, I pretty much explained the logic being applied in the post you quoted and you still don't understand. So, I'm not going to try any more because you seem to have already decided its a waste of time to test, or prevent the spread of a disease that can kill a sizable portion of the opulation.
 
Henry Boyd said:
You are right, the entire world medical community who is dealing with this disease is wrong. You argue there is no science, yet instead of following what has been the historical guidance for effectively dealing with infectious diseases for literally centuries, isolate and avoid other people, you respond get on out and mingle.
Click to expand...

There you go again! Never has WHO or CDC advises wearing a mask for a respiratory disease and in this case did not until put under political pressure to do so. If you get off CNN more and more Covid is very similar to a strong flu.

You do not get to have it both ways, you cannot claim that Covid is a novel unique virus then rely on studies of flu. So which is it? A novel unique virus that has not been studied or similar to the flu and previous recommendations for flu would apply? Give me some real science
 
MonacoMike said:
There you go again! Never has WHO or CDC advises wearing a mask for a respiratory disease and in this case did not until put under political pressure to do so. If you get off CNN more and more Covid is very similar to a strong flu.

You do not get to have it both ways, you cannot claim that Covid is a novel unique virus then rely on studies of flu. So which is it? A novel unique virus that has not been studied or similar to the flu and previous recommendations for flu would apply? Give me some real science
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Like I said Mike, you are smarter than the doctors and medical experts. BTW "novel" in this case is a scientific term and does not have the same meaning as in colloquial English.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Pete, I pretty much explained the logic being applied in the post you quoted and you still don't understand. So, I'm not going to try any more because you seem to have already decided its a waste of time to test, or prevent the spread of a disease that can kill a sizable portion of the opulation.
Click to expand...
You did, but the argument does not hold water. There are any number of illnesses that can kill, and can be passed from human to human (ie: the seasonal flu)...and we have never tested for them. But we are for this virus. Also no one has answered how frequently and for how long we test. A test, and the associated result is a snapshot of that instant. The minute you are tested, regardless of the result, it can change you could have a negative test, and go out and catch the virus. Now what? You already teste negative. Or better, you never get tested and go on with your life. But testing for the sake of testing is not helpful. If you go to a hospital because you are sick, or having a procedure, sure, test. If you work in health care, sure, test. But I don't see how widespread screening of the population at large helps in any way shape of form. Unless we test everyone, everyday, forever.
 
Creekwood said:
I hear this rhetoric repeatedly on here but no one is giving any adjusted or better information. Concluding that the information is useless has not been justified. Saying it is, does not make it so. But dead is dead. People that die of cancer often also die because of other complications like pneumonia. They still died of cancer IMO.
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Conflating the cause only ensues confusion and obscures the actual data. At present, because of this being used politically, getting to real usable accurate information will be tough. Maybe years from now after extensive research will the truth emerge.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Like I said Mike, you are smarter than the doctors and medical experts. BTW "novel" in this case is a scientific term and does not have the same meaning as in colloquial English.
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Show me some real science, I am asking again.

I couldn’t care less about opinions I want to see real science.
 
I have been following the numbers since day one, and have come to this conclusion. Agree or disagree, this is my perspective
You are probably not going to catch the virus. (Even with the recent "spike" in cases it is still affecting a small percentage of the population.
If you do catch the virus (ie: test positive), you are probably not going to be hospitalized. Small number compared to cases.
If you do go to the hospital, you are probably not going to die. The most under-reported number in this whole "pandemic" is the recovery rate, (97-99%, just googled it). So it's not a death sentence....
And if you are lucky enough to be relatively healthy with few or no co-morbidities the odds get even better.
We were told when this started millions were going to die, this summer. They havent, then it was hundreds of thousands. Not yet, and this is with counting anyone who died and was found to have the infection (with COVID) and those who died of COVID, that really exagerates the number of deaths.
So we all need to take a breath, realize it's not that bad, and we we will get past this.
Change my mind.
 
MonacoMike said:
Show me some real science, I am asking again.

I couldn’t care less about opinions I want to see real science.
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Since you don’t believe the people in public health, why don’t you look it up. You’re an adult, you can read. It’s not too hard to find.

I am mystified how you can seriously say this is political and refuse to listen to the scientists and doctors on the corona Virus task force. All of whom serve at the pleasure of the President, a man who certainly has zero Democratic Party leaning. The President has no problem firing people who don’t agree with the administration, and certainly has not shown any concerns for the opinions of his political opponents when firing subordinates. Could it be that while he may not like what his scientists and doctors say, he thinks they are right?

You say that testing is useless, but by his own statements, the President and those around him, are tested on what may well be a daily basis. If useless why spend the time and effort to test?
 
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