I had my "free" Covid test at the end of July at El Camino Hospital. After 15 days of waiting and leaving two phone messages, I was finally directed to the ECH myCare page and eventually retrieved my (negative) result. I understand the need for community-wide testing and I was pleased to contribute, but individual test results are important too. Since ECH took my private health insurance information, and most likely billed them, I am not at all happy with their "free testing".

I completely concur.

This response as a whole has been a disaster feeding event.

Joe Biden just said it, "COVID must be controlled before anything can be restored"

In effect the "Just In Time" management of medicine has broken the country worse than anything.

It is the most cost efficient way of medical care (thus most profitable), but it also has proven to leave us all in danger because of COVID.

We need to learn this lesson real good, "WE CAN"T EVER BE IN THIS POSITION AGAIN."

Testing turnaround has to be so much shorter. Compare the experience of family in Australia with test results texted to them in 16 hrs.
This delay in testing here means staff at open businesses aren't getting results in a timely way which means spread continues. Compare finding out in East Palo Alto Sun today finding out there are 30 plus covid cases in employees at local Ikea! In Australia if there is one covid case of an employee or customer anywhere information is put out by the health department with details of where person worked or has been and the times and for anyone at the store at the time to urgently get tested. We are so far behind here!

Add on top of this now, the smoke caused by the fires in the area are another severe public health risk.

It looks like this area can't get any luck except bad.

The smoke can cause long term lung damage because the particles are so small. The particles are defined as PM 2.5 PM, and they are so small they are 5 times smaller than the width of a human hair. They get lodged inside the lung aerolas, the places where the air we breath passes through a membrane to oxygenate the blood and expire the carbon dioxide.

I suffered from severe respiratory distress syndrome after birth, so I am very sensitive to this problem.

If people go put without a mask to help filter these particles, they will be stuck with these particles for as long as it takes to breath clean air enough to exhale these particles, which can take weeks.

Now these kinds of masks are very hard to get and also very expensive. But if this our new normal regarding climate change, the government may have to issue us this protection during these events.

And you can be exposed without being consciously aware of it. A level can occur that you cannot detect with smell. It is accumulative so that it collects in the lungs until the are is "clean" enough for the body to exhale them

We can't get a break can't we?

I was feeling horrible (cough, aches) and called to get a covid test from Sutter Health. Even though their website says if you have any of the listed symptoms, you could get a test. When I called I was told I couldn't be tested unless I had vomiting and diarrhea. So disappointing as a patient of Sutter Health.

Sunday, President Trump announced that the FDA had gotten out of the way in authorizing use of blood plasma from Covid-19 survivors to infectees who want to survive. Does it work or even help? Maybe yes. Maybe not. But the important point is that it could help Donald Trump's re-election bid. If this treatment does not help (the campaign), there will be others. We all remember Trump's last big idea about how to curb the pandemic: spraying lungs with a disinfectant!

I'm a registered nurse at Kaiser San Jose. To date staff has not been tested in compliance with the mandate. In fact covid+ staff are told to come to work if they are asymptomatic. This causes safety concerns as there are times when we can't be six feet apart.

In a pinch, you can sneeze onto an over-the-counter pregnancy test for at-home results.

Ken M.

WOW what does a pregnancy test have related to COVID?

I hope your being sarcastic.

I suffer from kleptomania sometimes and thus I don't understand SARCASM:

Kleptomaniacs take EVERYTHING literally.

I remember when I visited my doctor and he told me to take a seat.

It is now in my living room.

More evidence that the profit motive in health care doesn’t serve us well. Can anyone still claim we have the best health care system in the world? Are we all still so happy with the current system that we will resist changing it? Time for a single payer system!

OMG,

The U.S. just confirmed the first reinfections after recovery.

When are the doctors going to get this thing under control other than isolating ourselves?

REINFECTION means that if you get reinfected say 10 times in the next 5 years you increase your chances of death by 1000%

We are so screwed.

> In a pinch, you can sneeze onto an over-the-counter pregnancy test for at-home results.

^ Covid-19 also appears as specks in human feces so evaluating a stool sample via home testing or lab analysis might also suffice.

Justin Case,

PLEASE say your joking? Again I have been accused of being a kleptomaniac.

Kleptomaniacs have no sarcasm be cause we take EVERYTHING literally.

If you are actually serious, OMG.

What is really also scary is that the FDA is bending over backwards and forgoing any safety protocols to get ANY vaccine out there. The Medical Community is going nuts over it.

Many Doctors and others are raising the specter of the first generation vaccines either not working or worse causing negative health impact after the vaccine is given, because no safety checking for long term health is being done.

We can't just use anything, it must be proven safe first, and proven to really work.

Again, we are not doing what we did during Polio. We have to use our tools wisely and effectively.

But back then we had in effect a socialized healthcare systems, thus we had a army working together.

The current situation appears like the private labs are not coordinated.

This reminds me of Paul Tsongus that made the following observation:

The World is in a Crew Boat Race against COVID 19.

All the other countries have their crew manager saying "stroke, Stroke" and the rowers are in sync using the oars. Thus they are doing a better job at controlling the spreads

Our boat manger is saying "stroke, stroke" but our rowers are using the oars to beat each other to a pulp. Dr. Fauci is the boat manger, but Donald Trump is a rower. NOT the other way around. Donald Trump is NOT a Doctor or trained in Epidemiology

Like Donald Trump saying all the states are on their own. Donald Trump saying I am not responsible for anything, criticize the other guys. Like Donald Trump NOT listening to any MEDICAL professionals except those he has some financial ties to. Like hydroxychloroguine?

We are ALL screwed.

> PLEASE say your joking?

^ Not according to medical researchers. WebMD also has an article on this...it has something to do with Covid-19 RNA traces in human stool samples.

A DIY stool test could provide at home screening for the coronavirus....until there is a cure.

"Many COVID patients shed virus in feces, even without GI symptoms | MDedge Infectious Disease" Web Link

@ Mr. Goldstein

Here is the WebMD article. It mentions that Covid-19 particles could even be spread as aerosol from a flushing toilet or by hands that come in contact with an infected person's poop.

"COVID-19 Virus Found in Stool May Be Infectious" Web Link

Justin Case:

Yes, if someone coughs into a toilet and it is not cleaned it can spread COVID 19.

But you neglected to demonstrate that the "fecal" matter is not the original infections source.

Yes it has been detected in fecal matter as far as genetic material for detection. So far the evidence isn't indicating stat fecal matter is infectious.

Those tests are "genetic" thus require most likely PCR processing in order to detect it. The genetic material needs to be replicated in a lab. That testing can take days to process. There is no way to create a genetic test that people can perform either at work or at home to achieve this.

Please be safe EVERYONE?

> Yes, if someone coughs into a toilet and it is not cleaned it can spread COVID 19.

But you neglected to demonstrate that the "fecal" matter is not the original infections source.

Yes it has been detected in fecal matter as far as genetic material for detection. So far the evidence isn't indicating stat fecal matter is infectious.

^ Perhaps best to err on the side of precaution.

Covid-19 residual poop particles going airborne during the flushing process is what the researchers were referring to as there are countless public restrooms where others have neglected to flush after going.

Wearing a face mask curtails the
possibility of inhaling noxious fecal particles from an infected individual.

As far as infectious sources go, it's probably advisable to avoid eating bats as well.

JUstin Case,

Ozzy Osbourne had Bat as a diet. He seems fine.

As far as public bathrooms, they should have lids, to keep a bathroom clean you should flush the toilet with the cover down. The flow of water creates a vacuum, so the bacteria and viruses are sucked down the drain. On top of that, there should be bleach added to the water to kill infections.


Public bathrooms are extremely dirty unless cleaned every 3 to 4 hours.

Also, I know it sounds strange, but men should urinate sitting down to prevent spills and minimize aeration of urine carrying diseases. It also keeps bathrooms cleaner.

And don't get me started on urinals, they are the worst.

But your cell phone has been identified as a major sanitary problem, they should be cleaned at least once an hour

I was once learning to be an occupational therapist, so I was taught to analyze common tasks, and going to the bathroom is called an activity of daily living. Activity analysis can get so detailed you can write a 10 page analysis on daily grooming and bathroom activities double sided.

> And don't get me started on urinals, they are the worst.

^ Especially on the floor in front of the urinals...a lot of dribblers leave their mark for others to step in. Some public urinals have rubber mats but these only act as sponges...same after effect.

> ...men should urinate sitting down to prevent spills and minimize aeration of urine carrying diseases. It also keeps bathrooms cleaner.

^ Another suggestion...bidets.
They save on toilet paper and actually clean your behind rather than smearing the poop all over. Bidets are very popular in Europe, Japan & Muslim countries (where it is haram & considered unsanitary to use toilet paper).

Bidets are difficult to implement in rural outhouses because of the mobility factor...when the outhouse hole is filled, the outhouse is simply moved to a new location. Perhaps Manefest Destiny & the Homestead Act prevented bidets from becoming a valid part of American society & culture

> But your cell phone has been identified as a major sanitary problem, they should be cleaned at least once an hour.

^ Laying a cell phone down on unsanitary surfaces is the prime culprit.

Any suggestions for the safe handling of coinage & currency?
Money is probably the dirtiest of all...both figuratively & literally

Justin Case,

I went to the toilet and instead of finding toilet paper I see these 3 sea shells.

Sound familiar?

I agree that bidets are more sanitary, I used then when I worked in France the summer after I graduated high school.

There are retrofit kits that can be installed on home toilets.

They also should be installed with a "mild" soap cartridge to really clean.

But just understand that all public restrooms should be assumed to have fecal matter on all surfaces.

Especially if the bathroom have no towels, air dryers spread it around. The idea that air dryers are more sanitary is false.

I also remember that one approach is to install strong UV sanitation lights that work automatically if the door closes and is not locked, and signage is used to prepare the users. The UV can kill bacteria and viruses without chemicals. In fact many hospitals use UV air sanitization devices to clean the operating room air

OMG, The NIH just pulled convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID.

OMG, when are we going to get ANY real hope against COVID?

No treatment, no herd immunity, and potential of constant reinfection?

Now my anxiety is surpassed critical and is reaching terminal condition.

COVID 19 is getting to be like HIV, and they NEVER got a vaccine for it.

> "COVID 19 is getting to be like HIV, and they NEVER got a vaccine for it."

^ And so all practical & precautionary measures against Covid-19 must be maintained & practiced as a whole.

Incidentally...the wearing of face masks, safe distancing & no touching during sex have been advised by various public health agencies to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Addendum/reference/FYI:

Web Link

Justin,

Of course any kissing or close breathing can spread COVID.

Yes, it means that for the last 6 plus months intimate contact is a risk factor.

And YES, this is why college students are furious and revolting regarding social isolation.

Only those who you know are negative, or have been isolating themselves for at least 2 weeks prior should you consider getting into that kind of activities.

This has been the unspoken real pain regarding this time. This is why we need mental health support at a level never heard of in the general population. Even "healthy" psychologically classed people are suffering because of this.

> "..this is why college students are furious and revolting regarding social isolation.'

^ Preoccupation with sex, partying and alcohol consumption (though widely practiced), is not a sound reason for attending a college or university let alone unnecessary risk-taking.

As the URL suggested, there are other alternatives towards addressing one's imminent 'needs' and they should be considered...regardless of one's age.

Justin,

I apologize if I was "pigeon holing" that only college students were being impacted.

You are correct, everyone with any romantic needs are being impacted of any kind.

> "everyone with any romantic needs are being impacted of any kind."

^ The same can be said of those with certain 'non-romantic needs' (i.e. purely biological/hormonal and/or sociopathic ones) as well.

No sympathy here for them.

Justin,

The link you shared was about "intimate" relations. Yes there are other problems also occurring. But you brought up that particular infection vector.

Be safe

> "Even "healthy" psychologically classed people are suffering because of this."

^ As far as adapting to SIP mandates, safe distancing advisements & overcoming an ongoing sense of restlessness, recreational vehicle and boats sales & slip rentals are up.

What better way to pass the time than to set sail on the open waters or to hit the road and see America...whatever's left of it.

Beats staying home and feeling sorry for oneself.

Justin,

NOW Bob Woodward discloses that Donald Trump KNEW the disease was dangerous and infectious BUT said the opposite all during the pandemic.

If he was up front with us in the beginning, and took all the steps the medical professionals wanted to in the beginning, we would be in far better shape today.

The facts are thousands of people have died, and jobs are lost because he wanted to "prevent panic"

A freeze on cash markets and providing free shelter, energy, food, telecommunications from the beginning would have been the right action. Employment would be on "holiday" thus no increase in job loss would have happened. And the cost of taking out loans to prop up stocks again would have been saved.

The Vaccine front is getting a reality check from the Oxford vaccine study, and it has impacts on the rest of the vaccine research.

We are so not out of the woods yet.

Please also understand that it appears your twice as likely to contract COVID when going to eat even outdoors. Te report is found here (Web Link

The CDC is in effect saying it doesn't matter whether you eat indoors or outdoors regarding this report.

In fact this study used California as a data source.

It specifically stated:
"Asked about the CDC report, Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, said, “It is not surprising that dining at a restaurant was found to be associated with a positive test. This is likely due to the fact that eating and drinking, two activities intrinsic to visiting a restaurant, require removal of face covering."

From what I understand, the following states in the study prohibited indoor dining:

California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Minnesota appears to have no indoor dining. Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee has restricted indoor dining. Ohio, Utah, and Washington only recently allowed indoor dining with restrictions. During the study they were closed. So out of the 10 states at least 7 had no indoor dining at all during the study, and 3 did with restrictions.

To me that seems pretty clear, the findings are mostly counting infections from outdoor dining as a source. I know I didn’t point this out a clearly as I should. But it really appears that outdoor dining is just not safe given that it increases your infection probability by 100%.

Maybe this makes it more clear to the readers too.

By the way, even though we have seen a reduction in infections in Santa Clara County, it is due to the fact that the air quality is so bad that people are not going to eat outdoors for the last 3 or more weeks. So do not assume that the improved numbers we have now are a good sample or predictors. The reality is that once we allowed outdoor dining as an option our infections increased significantly if you look at the history.

This is REAL science, we need to consider this information at least?