Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #96

[Sundog]

Lateral flow tests:

What is a lateral flow test and how does the technology work?

We call them "rapid tests" in Ohio and you can get the kits free of charge from Ohio's public libraries at the check out desk. They are the Abbott Rapid COVID-19 Antigen At-Home Test Kits, and when you are ready to do the test, you go to a website that guides you through the process. I picked up a few to have on hand in case, but we haven't used them yet.

At the university where I work, we have random testing for faculty, staff and students, but if you are working remotely you don't need to be tested if you are selected for that week's testing. I am working remotely, so I haven't been tested.

And here, as well, if the antigen test is positive for somebody, then they follow up with a PCR test. That takes care of the false positive antigen test results. We also have PCR testing if requested if someone has symptoms that they think may be Covid.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

US isn't.

How will you pick up asymptotic cases? Thousands of people here every day find out they have Covid from lateral tests, even if they have no or few symptoms. Stops them spreading it to friends / family / colleagues.

No wonder our cases look so comparatively high

 

[Sundog]

How will you pick up asymptotic cases? Thousands of people here every day find out they have Covid, even if they have no or few symptoms. Stops them spreading it to friends / family / colleagues.

No wonder our cases look so comparatively high

We are using them in schools and universities in the U.S.

 

[jjenny]

How will you pick up asymptotic cases? Thousands of people here every day find out they have Covid from lateral tests, even if they have no or few symptoms. Stops them spreading it to friends / family / colleagues.

No wonder our cases look so comparatively high

We are likely underestimating the actual number of infections. Especially considering delta symptoms mimic common cold. Many people who have those kind of symptoms won't get tested because they think they have allergies or cold. Like has been pointed out above, most (I assume) Universities do test students, but most students are out for the summer right now.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Former surgeon general says CDC 'premature' to ease mask rules as delta variant spreads (nbcnews.com)

Jerome Adams expressed regret over his own dismissal of masks early on in the pandemic, but warns against repeating his mistake in the face of the highly transmissible variant.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who served under Donald Trump, worries that easing mask guidelines was “premature” in the face of rising infections caused by the delta variant.

Adams expressed regret that he and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, did not more strongly advocate mask wearing at the beginning of the pandemic last year...

 

[SoCalDavidS]

 

[Chelly]

I've been thinking the same thing. Now that virtually all places have lifted the mask mandates, I fear it will be hard to re-implement them.

I think the CDC acted too hastily in advising people to go maskless if they were vaccinated. Almost no one is wearing one, and I know they're not all vaccinated.

Agree 100 % @GRT. I just jumped back on this thread because of my concern over rising covid cases and deaths in my state, the country and abroad. I wanted to find out the current thinking among WS members. Thankfully, common sense is spoken here.

I am praying we are not headed into another downturn spiral.

 

[ilovewings]

Six British Olympic athletes identified as contacts of Covid passenger on their plane to Japan | Daily Mail Online

Six British Olympic athletes identified as contacts of Covid passenger on their plane to Japan | Daily Mail Online

No surprise--

 

[ilovewings]

Former surgeon general says CDC 'premature' to ease mask rules as delta variant spreads (nbcnews.com)

Jerome Adams expressed regret over his own dismissal of masks early on in the pandemic, but warns against repeating his mistake in the face of the highly transmissible variant.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who served under Donald Trump, worries that easing mask guidelines was “premature” in the face of rising infections caused by the delta variant.

Adams expressed regret that he and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, did not more strongly advocate mask wearing at the beginning of the pandemic last year...

I appreciate his honesty because he is so right about this- he and Dr. Fauci did not advocate wearing masks at the beginning of the pandemic---- and IMO the CDC has now prematurely advised that people who are vaccinated no longer need to wear masks. It has caused confusion because with people going unmasked , we don't know who has been vaccinated and who hasn't. This is especially concerning with the Delta variant.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

We've been using at home lateral flow tests for some time here in the UK. They are free and arrive next day. School kids and their families test I think three times per week and they recommend the rest of the working population do too. They can give a false positive, but if you test positive you get a PCR test anyway which confirms either way. I have some, and take one if I'm going into work (still work from home mostly) or if I see my parents for instance.

If you have symptoms, you're supposed to get a PCR test but that said, there have been a couple of times where I just felt a bit unwell and I took a lateral flow for peace of mind. Despite this we of course have this big outbreak, with self isolation also affecting day to day life - and as an example, in the school where my friend works 500 kids were self isolating last week.

We also have track and trace in place for venues. So when I was in work last week and had coffee in our cafe, I scanned in. This legal requirement lifts tomorrow but is optional if people want to scan. Just no obligation on the venue to take details manually if a customer does not have the app.

The mask mandate has been legal up until tomorrow and most people wear them where required. From tomorrow as I said before, some supermarkets are keeping the policy in place, asking customers in good faith to continue searing masks.

Despite all of this, our cases are still rocketing. The football, people travelling around the UK on hols, Unis finishing terms and schools I think must be aggravating factors.

Whilst fully vaccinated people here are getting covid, I think it's important to remember that our younger people are not yet fully vaccinated. People in their 20s have had the first, with the second still some weeks to go. They are out and about in pubs and restaurants, cinemas, gyms. Also school kids are not vaccinated. The younger people will account for IMO the majority of new cases - definitely reflected at my work, where all positives are early 20s so far.

I think what's good for us is firstly our vaccination programme, but also schools are closing for summer now. The weather here right now is very warm and that makes a difference, people will use pub gardens and eat outside more.

We do feel like we are taking part in some experiment which is v unnerving.

Bit of a ramble from me, but a layman's view of how it is here at the moment.

yes, thanks Phoey.... this post really provided some details that made things much more clear...

As awful as it is.... I think you Brits are sticking together to help each other.........

 

[nhmemorymaker]

We've been using at home lateral flow tests for some time here in the UK. They are free and arrive next day. School kids and their families test I think three times per week and they recommend the rest of the working population do too. They can give a false positive, but if you test positive you get a PCR test anyway which confirms either way. I have some, and take one if I'm going into work (still work from home mostly) or if I see my parents for instance.

If you have symptoms, you're supposed to get a PCR test but that said, there have been a couple of times where I just felt a bit unwell and I took a lateral flow for peace of mind. Despite this we of course have this big outbreak, with self isolation also affecting day to day life - and as an example, in the school where my friend works 500 kids were self isolating last week.

We also have track and trace in place for venues. So when I was in work last week and had coffee in our cafe, I scanned in. This legal requirement lifts tomorrow but is optional if people want to scan. Just no obligation on the venue to take details manually if a customer does not have the app.

The mask mandate has been legal up until tomorrow and most people wear them where required. From tomorrow as I said before, some supermarkets are keeping the policy in place, asking customers in good faith to continue searing masks.

Despite all of this, our cases are still rocketing. The football, people travelling around the UK on hols, Unis finishing terms and schools I think must be aggravating factors.

Whilst fully vaccinated people here are getting covid, I think it's important to remember that our younger people are not yet fully vaccinated. People in their 20s have had the first, with the second still some weeks to go. They are out and about in pubs and restaurants, cinemas, gyms. Also school kids are not vaccinated. The younger people will account for IMO the majority of new cases - definitely reflected at my work, where all positives are early 20s so far.

I think what's good for us is firstly our vaccination programme, but also schools are closing for summer now. The weather here right now is very warm and that makes a difference, people will use pub gardens and eat outside more.

We do feel like we are taking part in some experiment which is v unnerving.

Bit of a ramble from me, but a layman's view of how it is here at the moment.

BUT still have questions....................How do you get these lateral flow tests.... sounds like people have a bunch around?? Who pays, what do they cost, and how do you get them??

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Hang on, are other countries not doing the rapid at-home / lateral flow tests? Even for school children?

I immediately thought no...but I guess the "rapid tests" are the same...
I think we should all be learning more about these in the US.
Do we know for sure that they are free everywhere?
Easy to get?
I am hoping some "rapid test users" will chime in here.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

We are using them in schools and universities in the U.S.

But do young students get them in all schools around the country??

 

[HongKongPhooey]

BUT still have questions....................How do you get these lateral flow tests.... sounds like people have a bunch around?? Who pays, what do they cost, and how do you get them??

We order them online from our Gov website. They are free and postage is free too. They arrive next day delivery in a batch of 7 tests per order but each household member can order separately.

 

[weepingangel]

Teen tennis star Coco Gauff tests positive for Covid, will sit out Tokyo Olympics

Tennis player Coco Gauff has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be competing in the Tokyo Olympics, where she was expected to lead Team USA.

Gauff, 17, announced the news through her own social media on Sunday, where she wished the rest of the team luck on the international stage. This would have been Gauff’s first Olympic appearance after a series of notable appearances in Grand Slam tournaments over the past few years.

"I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff wrote. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future."

 

[ilovewings]

Teen tennis star Coco Gauff tests positive for Covid, will sit out Tokyo Olympics

Tennis player Coco Gauff has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be competing in the Tokyo Olympics, where she was expected to lead Team USA.

Gauff, 17, announced the news through her own social media on Sunday, where she wished the rest of the team luck on the international stage. This would have been Gauff’s first Olympic appearance after a series of notable appearances in Grand Slam tournaments over the past few years.

"I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff wrote. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future."

Wait for it- other athletes will be dropping out--- this is just a disaster- I can hardly stand it. This didn't have to happen: The olympics should have been put off until next year when it would have been done the right way.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

We order them online from our Gov website. They are free and postage is free too. They arrive next day delivery in a batch of 7 tests per order but each household member can order separately.

The tests are given out at school, too, every 2 or 3 weeks the kids bring a pack home. They can also be picked up at pharmacies.

@nhmemorymaker no idea what they cost financially. What does irk me slightly is the cost to the environment - so much single use plastic getting thrown away

 

[jjenny]

We order them online from our Gov website. They are free and postage is free too. They arrive next day delivery in a batch of 7 tests per order but each household member can order separately.

We are not getting free tests shipped to us here in US. So our actual infection numbers are likely much higher than our official numbers.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

We are not getting free tests shipped to us here in US. So our actual infection numbers are likely much higher than our official numbers.

Do you guys have an APP to record any test results or symptoms etc?

We have the NHS one (controversial at the mo due to the amount of self isolation alert "pings" it sends - it's a legal requirement if you get one) and also the Zoe APP which records symptoms etc for the science guys.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

yes, thanks Phoey.... this post really provided some details that made things much more clear...

As awful as it is.... I think you Brits are sticking together to help each other.........

I think you have a point about us sticking together. Most people do follow the rules, the problem seems to be that the rules aren't protecting us enough.