Testing - is this wasted on hospital admissions at this point?

[Cornettoninja]

Surely at this point anyone presenting to hospital with pneumonia symptoms is being presumed as a covid infection now.

I don’t understand what the point of using resources in this way is now we’re all pretty much agreed it’s out there. If they want accurate stats surely samples could be stored for testing later? The countries dealing with this best are testing aggressively but we seem to be distracted with confirming what we know. I don’t get it.

I agree with your assumption if presuming COVID until demonstrated otherwise for respiratory symptoms. And then they can be placed within the hospital in the way that is safest for staff, and removed from isolation beds as soon as a different cause is proved.

It really is quite important to know who has got what idpf youbwant to keep,your hospitals uncontaminated and your staff as safe as possible. Somall admissions need to be tested (several cases already of people admitted for other reasons also testing positive, and this will continue given that the chronically ill are at higher risk).

Don't be ridiculous. What of the person has a bacterial pneumonia and just needs antibiotics?..If we assume every respiratory problem is covid 19, people could.be getting the wrong treatment orno treatment for something that has a treatment Also we will have non idea of when numbers start to tail off as we will have none.

Couldn’t bacterial pneumonia be ruled out with its own test?

I’m not suggesting no testing at all - far from it - it’s just if the resources are seemingly being rationed for this particular test and the WHO recommend testing larger numbers to control the spread alongside good results from countries that already do that maybe it’s time to switch tactics.

Catching and confirming low level infections could be helping to slow the transmission rate.

No. That is really not sensible. If you know it ISN’T COVID you can treat differently (and deciding if it is bacterial isn’t just one “test”) and not use up unnecessary PPE on that patient which is in short demand. You can also cohort all the positive patients in one ward reducing spread to negative ones. And prognosticate better. So many reasons. Hospitals DESPERATELY need the tests to safeguard their patients and staff. The general public just need to stay indoors and wait

(Not that I don’t agree with widespread testing but we have limited kits and need to make hard decisions)

Fair enough.

It’s just so frustrating reading about other countries procedures and apparent successes by testing widely when here it’s just been left to the general public’s interpretation.

I worry that there’ll be a false sense of security in people who think they’ve had it and gained some immunity (I realise this isn’t proven but I don’t know how well understood that is) when they haven’t. I also think it’s worrying other cases of non-covid pneumonia could be left developing at home because it’s presumed to be covid purely on symptoms.

If the patient is covid -ve thexrequirement for PPE can be escalated and this help preserve stock.
The availability of masks etc. is a real concern and the fact that so many morons are wearing bits of kit I need to safely perform my high risk job (intubating sick people) randomly on the tube incorrectly presumably without having been formally fitted for it pains me greatly.
Bog standard surgical face masks work for symptomatic people when out & about (which shouldn't be the case at the moment)
Or to protect familial care givers at home (both should wear one).

The rest of the time don't bother & save the resources.