This addresses why commercial/private labs have difficulty getting the kits and authorization to do the testing:

The first Washington cases were from tests that the CDC didn't approve of. Local officials ignored CDC guidelines and used private resources. After the CDC confirmed the accuracy of the results, they told Washington to stop testing.

Don't have the exact reference now, but here's something:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-cdc-testing-washington-state_n_5e5c3f23c5b6450a30c0c4f8

 

PPE

Me too. This situation shouldn't be political. If we had asked for help, they would have given it to us. The lack of cooperation has cost US citizens their lives.

Why can't we do widespread testing like South Korea? We have far more resources than them, yet they're testing at a rate of 2,000 per million and we're testing at a rate closer to 25. It's not like we're some resource poor nation with non-existent medical infrastructure. We knew this was coming several months ago. Our leaders have let us down.

South Korea and China had existing specific virus infrastructure for testing because of the SARS epidemic of 2003 and others. We were much less affected by previous outbreaks so US leaders then until now didn't make it a high priority. No excuses for fumbling the ball today as we ramp-up but it will take time.

 

We were much less affected by previous outbreaks so US leaders then until now didn't make it a high priority.

Why didn't we ask them for help?

 

Just got an email from my cruising sister and thought I would share it.

"Well, I doubt you'll be surprised to know coronavirus panic has finally come to the South Pacific. We are shut out of Tahiti, so ship is currently in limbo. A lot of passengers were supposed to leave the ship in Tahiti, so much uncertainty for them. We are anchored off Rarotonga, Cook Islands, until further notice. They are trying to make arrangements to disembark the Tahiti passengers here and fly them out.

Captain says we still have plenty of food and fuel, so I'm not worried.

Having much trouble getting texts out, so that is reason for email. The one country not covered by my AT&T international passport is Cook Islands, so I have to pay 50 cents to send a text, which I would gladly do if it would work at all!

Someone please forward this to Jackie. I don't have her address memorized.

More when I have something new"!

Knowing my sister she will make the best of things and enjoy as long as the wine and food is available. So far nobody on the ship is sick or even has a common cold. Maybe they are better off than the rest of us. They started out of Auckland NZ so it will be interesting to see if that's where they return to and she is not even due back there till like 4/2 or 43 I think.

Ron

 

@dl324

If it makes you feel better, I have also ignored FDA inspectors. That occasion precipitated a non-scheduled trip to the Federal Court House in Philadelphia and testimony to a room full of FDA attorneys. I was not allowed counsel; although, our company counsel accompanied me. He wasn't allowed to say a word. Nothing of substance happened to me, except a black mark in the local FDA inspector's (M.M.) book . The FDA does have teeth and can suspend/revoke the license of any lab.

The FDA is an inspection and approval agency. It's only concern is following procedures. It does not care about patient welfare. If you want to learn more about the reasons commercial/private labs aren't doing the testing, click on the link in the document to which I linked (#4.b) having to do with EUA's. The FDA wanted to monopolize all testing to public laboratories. Why?

BTW, @shortbus : My experience with the FDA and comments related thereto span a period of more than 30 years and administrations of both major political parties.

Edit: corrected spelling

 

​

 

Why didn't we ask them for help?

Most likely we believed we didn't need help.

South Korea was prepared and still got their butts kicked with this virus and it's far from over, they've only got the tiger by the tail.

 

Just got an email from my cruising sister and thought I would share it.

"Well, I doubt you'll be surprised to know coronavirus panic has finally come to the South Pacific. We are shut out of Tahiti, so ship is currently in limbo. A lot of passengers were supposed to leave the ship in Tahiti, so much uncertainty for them. We are anchored off Rarotonga, Cook Islands, until further notice. They are trying to make arrangements to disembark the Tahiti passengers here and fly them out.

Captain says we still have plenty of food and fuel, so I'm not worried.

Having much trouble getting texts out, so that is reason for email. The one country not covered by my AT&T international passport is Cook Islands, so I have to pay 50 cents to send a text, which I would gladly do if it would work at all!

Someone please forward this to Jackie. I don't have her address memorized.

More when I have something new"!

Knowing my sister she will make the best of things and enjoy as long as the wine and food is available. So far nobody on the ship is sick or even has a common cold. Maybe they are better off than the rest of us. They started out of Auckland NZ so it will be interesting to see if that's where they return to and she is not even due back there till like 4/2 or 43 I think.

Ron

A cruise ship with no sick passengers or crew might be the safest place to be right now.

 

A cruise ship with no sick passengers or crew might be the safest place to be right now.

also the most fun...

 

Most likely we believed we didn't need help.

Misguided arrogance.

South Korea was prepared and still got their butts kicked with this virus and it's far from over, they've only got the tiger by the tail.

I suspect we're going to get ours kicked too.

 

The FDA wanted to monopolize all testing to pubic laboratories.

Really?

 

The bureaucracy of the US Gov. shut out any testing by private labs. IE hospitals, LabCorp, etc. What I am being told is my MD has to assess me and IF I meet the criteria for testing I will be sent to the county medical service office (which is horrible and which I avoid like the plague) for testing. Which I understand does not have the ability to perform the test and presumably will take a nose swab sample and send it to a Gov. lab. You cannot simply ask to be tested. That is apparently in a state of flux with the need for testing overwhelming Gov. labs and hopefully will be expanded to the private sector. It is not a simple test and the number of people needing to be tested is exponentially expanding rapidly. There is also some unsubstantiated disturbing news that testing is now showing that even after "recovery" the person may still be a carrier for up to 30 days after cessation of symptoms. YMMV

 

Going to be Telecommuting from now on, I had already planned on it, but this shorten my time at work. Saving gas, wear and tear on the car, and will right off 14x25 of my new office / living room.

kv

 

This is really going overboard. So I forwarded the email from my one sister on the cruise ship we got to my other sister and my kids so they would be up to date on their aunt Cindy. Heard back from the kids. My daughter is mad as heck because she has been looking for toilet paper and there is none to be found. I am pretty sure all the toilet paper manufacturers are still making the stuff. I picked up a few things today at the market but had no need for the toilet paper aisle. Daughter is in Columbus two hours south of us in Cleveland, Ohio. My wife developed cancer a few years ago and things have been going well but I now do the shopping. Two commodities which totally annoyed me were the damn toilet paper and paper towels because of the bulk and space they occupy in my cart. I fixed the problem through Amazon and started just every now and then buying like 36 rolls of toilet paper and 24 roll packs of paper towels, needed or not just so I wouldn't have to screw with the stuff. I have plenty of garage space and shelves so when boxes show I drag them out to the garage. I love Amazon. Well just out of curiosity I looked for toilet paper on Amazon, would you believe not a roll to be had. I am waiting to see it on Craig's List or Flea Bay for $8.00 a roll. Forget any form of those surgical mask and any and all disinfectant products, the shelves, even at Amazon are bare.

My other sister works at the National Guard base in Columbus where helicopter traffic has been busy and of course rumors abound that the guard will be called out. I am waiting for NYC areas like New Rochelle to start Martial Law, can you imagine? TNT is trying to figure out what programming to run in place of March Madness. People really get weird when something they don't understand drives fear. Toilet paper? C'mon let's get real here. I guess if things get real bad I can send the kids toilet paper.

Ron

 

I guess it is some genetic reaction like lemmings to the sea. Same thing happens here every time there is a Hurricane warning, TP and Bottled Water cleared from the store shelves. Even when planning to evacuate you must have massive amounts on hand "just in case". Of what I don't know.

 

This is really going overboard. People really get weird when something they don't understand drives fear. Toilet paper? C'mon let's get real here. I guess if things get real bad I can send the kids toilet paper.

Ron

My answer to it is purchase and install a bidet toilet, I’m also going for a zero water filter with UV.

kv

 

My answer to it is purchase and install a bidet toilet, I’m also going for a zero water filter with UV.

kv

Normally in all my observations the bidet say beside the toilet but there was still a toilet. Yeah, now I see a run on toilets with a spritzer. Living in Italy most of my American neighbors used a bidet as a flower pot in the bathroom, watering was easy.

Ron

 

I guess it is some genetic reaction like lemmings to the sea. Same thing happens here every time there is a Hurricane warning, TP and Bottled Water cleared from the store shelves. Even when planning to evacuate you must have massive amounts on hand "just in case". Of what I don't know.

Yeah, really now that you mention it.

Ron

 

Normally in all my observations the bidet say beside the toilet but there was still a toilet. Yeah, now I see a run on toilets with a spritzer. Living in Italy most of my American neighbors used a bidet as a flower pot in the bathroom, watering was easy.

Ron

This is one of some available.

https://www.manybidets.com/bb-2000-...MIr9nt3qWW6AIVix6tBh1IyQEnEAQYASABEgLBKvD_BwE

kv

 

My opinion is that Covid-19 is a biological weapon that was accidentally or deliberately released in China and it's now spreading throughout the world.

After the 911 attacks, the Department Of Homeland Security has warned that U.S. is at risk for a chemical, biological, or nuclear attack. Remember the anthrax attack that happened right after 9-11? The government claims it does not know exactly who perpetrated those attacks. So who did it?

If this corona virus is as bad as the government and the media claims, I'm getting very suspicious that Covid-19 is another terrorist attack.

Now back to our regular scheduled program.