The President did order meat processing plants to remain open under the Defense Production Act last Tuesday. Heard that the initial plants closing supplied 16% of meat production in the US. Problems here in Maryland on the chicken farms with the virus causing problems in production.
My thoughts on testing: I think too much money, importance and resources are being wasted as Covid19 testing can only determine if one has the virus at the exact time the test is done. After a test, one could contract the virus leaving the doctor’s office or could be in very early stage of infection not detected by the test. This test is useful for more actively sick people to determine and plan treatment protocols for the individual. Asymptomatic people won’t be rushing to be tested because they don’t know they are carrying/spreading the virus.
Test, treat, contact tracing is only effective in the very beginning to prevent the spread of any contagious disease. I think we are way past that point. Might be good only for areas with extremely low numbers of infection, but that is assuming no one travels into or out of those areas.
I was involved in a situation back in the 1970’s. An ambulance and the police pulled into our workplace and made anyone who had been within 3 feet of a specific individual was put in the ambulance and taken directly to the hospital, blood drawn and waited for results. They told us nothing. I was released, so assume I was negative and allowed to go home. Very scary. Never heard anything else about it, so again assume disaster was averted.
The antibody test is better as it can identify individuals whose blood can be used to treat those who are actively ill with the disease.
I see this ending with a protocol similar to tuberculosis or flu, where we get tested when we go to the doctor as a routine health screening, and a vaccine when needed and available. Until then, I will be taking any preventative measures I can.
And as for me, I am willing to temporarily give up my civil rights guaranteed by our constitution, to help protect our population until this threat is under control. |