[Goose]

I just saw a BBC report that the UK has already tested 7,000+ people and is planning many drive up testing services. They showed the operation. It’s apparently really simple. To me, this is something that should be part and parcel of a coordinated government response. Don’t make anyone pay for it - brand it as a CDC program - and put the testing drive ups in mall parking lots.



But do we even have a way to coordinate from CDC to state health officials to local? 



OMG, I just went to CDC website to see their updated requirements for testing in wake of UC Davis case. Though they no longer require someone to have had or been close to someone who recently travelled to China specifically, they still are requiring fever as prerequisite for testing EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION! This is just irresponsible. Think the UK and South Korea are requiring fever for drive up tests?

OF, before you conclude that a "drive up" testing approach is a good idea, it might be wise to consider that a limited number of testing kits are currently available. If they get consumed by people who are "just being safe" but have a low probability of being positive we will really have a problem if this outbreak becomes widespread. The capacity to manufacture these kits is also limited. We can't just order a bunch of them and have them show up in a week. The CDC is certainly being cautious about using them up, but that may be because they know we don't have "enough" and can't get "enough" soon.

[Goose]

I just saw a BBC report that the UK has already tested 7,000+ people and is planning many drive up testing services. They showed the operation. It’s apparently really simple. To me, this is something that should be part and parcel of a coordinated government response. Don’t make anyone pay for it - brand it as a CDC program - and put the testing drive ups in mall parking lots.



But do we even have a way to coordinate from CDC to state health officials to local? 



OMG, I just went to CDC website to see their updated requirements for testing in wake of UC Davis case. Though they no longer require someone to have had or been close to someone who recently travelled to China specifically, they still are requiring fever as prerequisite for testing EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION! This is just irresponsible. Think the UK and South Korea are requiring fever for drive up tests?

OF, before you conclude that a "drive up" testing approach is a good idea, it might be wise to consider that a limited number of testing kits are currently available. If they get consumed by people who are "just being safe" but have a low probability of being positive we will really have a problem if this outbreak becomes widespread. The capacity to manufacture these kits is also limited. We can't just order a bunch of them and have them show up in a week. The CDC is certainly being cautious about using them up, but that may be because they know we don't have "enough" and can't get "enough" soon.