sorry for a stupid question re: testing

[choie]

Why do states need to wait for the CDC to okay the release of tests for the coronavirus?

[Wounded Bear]

1. I believe there is a law in place to regulate the testing of infectious diseases...

I think a waiver would be in order, but Trump is trying to put a lid on reporting of new cases as a PR move.

He's stupid and evil.

[mercuryblues]

6. As far as I know

there are no laws. There are guidelines that the CDC puts in place. The criteria is very strict, which keeps the rate of new cases low. If they aren't tested, they don't have it.

[SMC22307]

2. You mean test results?

Fat Nixon wants to keep the numbers down to prove it was a "Democrat hoax." God, I detest that fucker.

[PSPS]

3. My understanding is that the states can and do report those numbers

Here's something about this:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-many-americans-have-been-tested-coronavirus/607597/

The big problem seems to be the lack of testing which contributes to the inaccurate fatality rates being breathlessly reported by the click-hungry media.

[mercuryblues]

4. Because the CDC doesn't want the number of cases to rise

If you don't test, people don't have it. This helps trump.

During outbreaks, independent labs can develope their own tests. But the tests have to be tested for accuracy. Which means they haven't hit the hospitals yet. From my understanding trump refused the tests from the WHO, putting American lives in jeopardy.

BTW Melania is putting the finishing touches on the WH tennis courts and trump went golfing today. Rome burns and those 2 are grifting.

[choie]

5. Got it...

thanks for the explanation!

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Well part of it is the availability of the test

It's my understanding that the manufacturer can produce 1 Million tests per week. With a nation of over 300 Million, they have to have criteria for when the test is appropriate. They can't test every person who has the sniffles.

[Massacure]

8. Test availability is definitely a bottleneck

The Atlantic article posted by PSPS above quoted California as being capable of testing 7,400 people a day and Washington State being capable of testing about 1,000 people, Iowa 500 per day, and other states even less than that.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. In actuality, I think they've only tested a couple thousand nationwide.

And people are going untested even when they have a very high probability of being positive, and their doctor's, ER's. etc want them to be tested.

This is a deliberate clusterfuck. There was absolutely no reason for this apart from Trump's ego and stupidity, and the cravenness of his associates.

[mercuryblues]

12. Last Tuesday

Pence said in a presser that we would have 1 million tests by the end of the week. That was a lie. We got 75,000. People still have to go to the media to get tested.

South Korea and the US acknowledged their 1st cases on almost the same day. Jan 19th for SK and Jan 20 for USA.

As of March 5th we tested 1,500 people.

South Korea tested 140,000.

As a result SK has identified 6,000 cases, 35 people have died, a .06 mortality rate
The US has identified 221 cases and 12 deaths, about a 5% mortality rate. During the same time period.

Certainly the US could have tested at least 1/2 the amount that SK did during the same time period?

[pat_k]

9. Basically, a series of failures...

... led to a massive shortage of tests. The CDC kept the criteria for testing extremely restrictive to limit the backlog.

The short story is:

Jan 13, a reliable test is developed.

The US decides not to use the existing reliable test, and instead make their own. No rational explanation for this decision has been given.

It takes three weeks.

Feb 5, CDC starts distributing their test, apparently without quality assurance.

Recipients of the test identify "performance issues" (doesn't work as it should).

Testing and distribution of test essentially ceases.

There is an FDA regulatory barrier to allowing medical centers and labs to develop their own tests. The barrier was NOT, as DT claims, put in by the Obama admin. Per AP fact check, it was put in by Trump's.

Inexplicably, FDA does not act to open up testing, leaving the CDC "the only game in town."

CDC test purportedly "fixed" and distribution supposedly resumes (but it remains very difficult for states to get test kits)

Most states are required to continue sending samples to CDC for testing through March 2. (Even now, many states still have little or no capacity to test themselves, so their samples continue to go to CDC, with CDC restrictions on who can be tested).

Reasons for such limited distribution of the purportedly "fixed" test are unclear. (As many have suggested here, it is so inexplicable, it seems purposeful. Fewer tests, fewer positive results.)

After incredible pressure and exposure of failed response, the FDA finally lifts restrictions preventing medical centers and other labs to develop and perform testing.

Starting the week of March 2, states are ramping up their own testing programs. DT promises millions of CDC test kits to be distributed starting the week of 3/10. This does not appear to be happening.

[FreeState]

10. And Trump could makes money off the new test

According to the Associated Press, Donald Trump, the current President of the United States who is supposed to be managing the Coronavirus epidemic and how the testing is conducted, has listed investments in V.F. Corp (VFC) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Corporation (TMO), both of which moved jobs out of the U.S. in high profile outsourcing deals. There is reason to believe that Donald Trump stands to profit from medical testing of coronavirus that will now take place in the United States.

https://shero.substack.com/p/trump-could-profit-from-coronavirus

[pat_k]

13. Investigation of whole mess needed. Follow the money. (nt)

[icymist]

14. I have a theory that Trump won't have the WHO test because it was developed in Germany.

The Chancellor of Germany is Angela Merkel. Trump hates strong women.