Shashi,
Both names are NOT used to create panic. It is just that "coronavirus" is easier for many to relate to than "COVID-19". It was also used in the early days of the spread of the virus before the more correct "COVID-19" identifier was used. It kind of stuck with people (much to the chagrin of Cervecería Modelo, who makes "Corona" beer).
I suspect that any of the tests for COVID-19 infection is looking at the presence of anti-bodies or similar markers. The fact one has anti-bodies means you were infected. Period. You may have been asymptomatic, had a mild case, or have a serious immune system response that puts you in the hospital. The problem is that someone who is infected can transmit the virus before exhibiting symptoms. You can be completely asymptomatic, not even aware that you are infected, and still be able to transmit the virus to others. Even "recovered" COVID-19 patients can still shed virus. This is the danger of this virus, it is so easy to pass around unknowingly, and by the time you realize you are getting ill, you have already likely passed it to others. Most people will not even get ill, but someone may have a severe immune system overreaction that puts them in the hospital or the grave.
Testing is a problem. In the hardest hit areas like Florida, I have been reading accounts of people who suspect they are sick and cannot get a test at a clinic, where the first open appointment is in a week or two, who are denied a test because they do not exhibit enough of the symptoms, and even if tested do not get back results for several days after the test. This means people who are sick are walking around (hopefully self-isolating as a precaution to their family) not knowing if they are ill with COVID-19 or something else. I have also read that some people are being coded with bronchitis because an initial test comes back negative (there is a much higher percentage of false negatives, from what I have read around 25%), sent to the non-COVID-19 ER ward, and then discharged back into the community with antibiotics, which are useless against COVID-19. This puts anyone in the regular ER ward at risk. Yes this is anecdotal, but it reflects the conditions that the hardest hit communities are facing. This also suggests that there are far more people who actually have COVID-19 than shows up in the statistics.
I was listening this morning to Morning Edition, and they had someone on who said that in order for us to be in a position of opening up the community, we need to be testing at a rate of 3 to 4 million tests per day. And for test results to be quickly known. In fact, that is the new government goal for September as a marker to be able to open up the schools and the rest of the economy. Right now, nationwide, we are doing around 1 million tests per day. And for many cases, the wait time on results is a week or more. Also, without extensive contact tracing, you don't know if you even had been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The countries who are on top of this are doing both extensive testing and contact tracing. We are terribly behind the curve, unprepared, and vulnerable.
People need to start caring about others and doing what it takes to prevent transmission. It is not panic, but vigilance. You wear a mask not to protect you, but to protect anyone around you. You practice social distancing to limit transmission for the same reason. You limit your risk of exposing yourself to others, i.e., no partying, gathering in groups, etc. Those are the best tools we have right now until more extensive testing, contact tracing, and hope for a vaccine.
David
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