Woman From Seattle Tries Getting Tested For Coronavirus And Her Story Exposes How Unprepared The USA Is
With the new coronavirus continuing to spread across the world, some people are, without a doubt, fearing for the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones. So naturally, when someone believes they have all the symptoms of the illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath), they want to reach out to health professionals and get tested.
When one woman living in Seattle, Washington, tried to get tested for the coronavirus, she ran into roadblock after roadblock.
She documented her frustrating experience on Twitter where it went viral as people couldn’t believe the responses that she got from healthcare professionals. Scroll down to read Sketchy Lady’s story in her own words. And let us know if you’ve run into similar situations.
More info: Twitter
126 people are infected with the new coronavirus in the US…
Image credits: Masa Israel Journey (not the actual photo)
…and one woman who had all the symptoms tried to get tested to see if she has Covid-19. Here’s her story
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The New York Times writes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “botched its first attempt to mass produce a diagnostic test kit, a discovery made only after officials had shipped hundreds of kits to state laboratories.”
“A promised replacement took several weeks, and still did not permit state and local laboratories to make final diagnoses. And the CDC essentially ensured that Americans would be tested in very few numbers by imposing stringent and narrow criteria, critics say.” In other words, this might explain part of the reason why not every case of suspected infection is tested in the US.
The global response to the health crisis has had varying degrees of success in different countries. For instance, if you watch John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, then you’ll know that Vietnam has an amazing and effective handwashing commercial.
As John pointed out, it’s best to react to the crisis somewhere between apathy and total panic. In other words, wash your hands often, stay vigilant, but don’t buy up all the food at your local grocery store.
Meanwhile, at the time of writing, CNN reports that there are 126 people infected with Covid-19 in the US. 9 people have died from the illness—all of them in Washington state. California and Washington both have the most cases, with 27 people infected.
The situation in some other countries is far worse. South Korea reported 516 new confirmed cases of people infected with the virus on Wednesday. The country has 5,328 infected; 33 have died from the virus, according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, the WHO states that Covid-19 is most dangerous to those over 60, who have preexisting health concerns and are already ill. That’s not to say that you get a free pass if you’re young and fit, but you are in a better position to weather the storm.
Some people shared similar experiences and pointed out flaws in the system
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Some Twitter users blamed the government
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Others explained how their countries are dealing with the health crisis
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I came back from an overseas trip a couple of weeks ago with a very high fever. Long story short, I called the free NHS 111 service to discuss my symptoms. They took my history and sent an ambulance for me. The guy in the back of the ambulance was fully kitted up with protective equipment. At the hospital, I was securely transferred to an isolation ward. I was given a ton of blood tests, including coronavirus. I was monitored constantly until the results came back. I did not have coronavirus, but I had a very contagious bird flu variant virus. Once I stopped getting fevers, they went over safety protocols with me and allowed me to go home and self-isolate for a further 10 days, with Tamiflu, which I did. I got immediate help, excellent care and everybody knew what they were doing, and I paid nothing out of pocket. This is why I won't hear a word against the wonderful employees of the UK;s National Health Service.
This is why I love the UK NHS. They are under staffed, under paid and under immense pressure but they still manage to treat us like humans and take care of us.
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One problem with all of this is that the symptoms are pretty near to every other disease like bronchitis and so on. Without the tests how would you actually know for sure?
What makes COVID-19 challenging is the obvious issues of authorities on the one hand yet the hystery of many people and the media on the other. You find all kind of articles that essentially are written like "Just wash your hands. Mild symptoms in most people. WE WILL ALL DIE, FLEE AS LONG AS YOU MAY. There is no need to worry." In my neighbourhood, shops have been solf out for long-lasting groceries. Doctors cannot shop for disinfectants since normal people bought them by the barrel. This is absurd behaviour.
In my country people bought face masks and disinfectants in bulk until they created a shortage and are now selling them for a profit. The government hasn't tried doing anything to tackle the issue. People suck.
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Health care is GARBAGE here in the US. I pay a lot and get terrible service regardless of I need. Even with premium insurance I still have to pay for visits.
Nothing beats a good public health system. Not even the best private care. Private care works for profit.
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And in a perfect response the president puts his veep (who has repeatedly said science is just some people's opinions) in charge. It's almost like he's afraid people will find out how utterly useless he is as a leader in a crisis so he throws someone even worse under the bus.
Since Pence was named to "head" this "response", the CDC homepage guidelines have changed, the update for Monday didn't occur, and th emilitary is only to be told what POTUS and Pence say they can. THis is ridiculous. Quarantine, hand-washing, and relax. The panic is worse than the disease... WHere I live, I swear my one neighbor is planning to SHOOT the virus!
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Welcome to tRUMPS America. This is only going to get worse. Look who is running things: pence, the guy who started a preventable HIV outbreak. I hope this thing bypasses us, but if it doesn't, while folks are dying, pence will be praying it away.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/pence-s-handling-2015-hiv-outbreak-gets-new-scrutiny-n1144786
Load More Replies... The US military cannot tell the troops anything President Trump hasn't approved. The CDC cannot say or release anything not okayed by VP Pence. Rely on yourself, but DO NOT PANIC. I'm not kidding. Unless you're like me (doing wound care for elderly parent) and NEED those supplies? Stick to hand-washing and common sense. If you ARE "at risk"... Consult your doctor. Don't buy out the stores and contribute to a wholly unnecessary panic and hysteria. The US gov't under its current leaders will not do anything sensible like quarantine, inform, and so forth ... So look to WHO, stay calm, wash your hands, and stay calm some more. PLEASE.
Yeah, good luck with that, America. These situations are the reason why you need a national, public, free health care system.
I live in the Seattle area. What concerns me is 8 of the 9 people who have died were all from the same nursing home in Kirkland. They weren't testing them either. Those family members are pretty upset because they visited their loved ones not knowing they were being exposed.
And they still haven't been tested! There's no excuse for this neglect!!!!
Load More Replies... I'm an American and I can attest that the U.S. health care system truly, truly sucks. As my mother, a Registered Nurse (and atheist) working in Critical Care in a hospital for 30 years, often says: "Do NOT get sick. And if you do get sick, do not go to a hospital. And if you must go to a hospital, goddess help you."
If she said "Goddess help you" she isn't Atheist, she is Wicca. The oldest religion in the world. Good for her.
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Don't worry America, Vice-President Pence is on it. The very same man who as Senator refused to pass legislation that would have given heroin addicts sterile needles in response to America's biggest HIV crisis, and who as recently as 2000 claimed that there is "no evidence that smoking will kill you".... I don't know what you're worrying about.
I have never been happier to live in rural Missouri. People around my area don't really travel much, so I'm crossing my fingers that we can all live in our own little virus free bubble. If not, I have a freezer full of food and seeds for a nice big garden. We'll just stay home and hope Bernie and his healthcare reform can get elected in November and put the country back together. I mean holy s**t, Gorge W Bush could have done a better job than the self centered idiot we have now.
I used to ride my bike behind the mosquito fog truck when I was younger so I am 100% positive that I am immune to this.
You mean the DDT truck? I’d watch out for cancer if I was you. My mother actually heard what Rachel Carson had to say about pesticides (she could quote chapter and verse from Silent Spring), and kept me inside when those trucks were in our neighborhood on summer evenings, so I never got to ride my bike behind them. Resented it then, but so grateful now.
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QLD Australia here. Called my Dr. They advised me to call the free health line where a nurse took my details then advised me to see my Dr within 4 hours and to advise them to isolate me upon arrival. I turned up..they gave me a mask and popped me in an empty Drs office. Dr came in with a mask on..swabbed my nose took my temp and listened to my lungs. Gave me a script for strong antibiotics and told me to self Isolate. Turns out I've just got pneumonia and rhinovirus. The whole process was quick and free on Medicare.
In Singapore everything is so efficient, the govt would even subsidize all testing for all suspected and confirmed cases in fear that people might not want to seek medical help due to financial reasons.
I'm not surprised at all at any of the information, that the CDC messed up the test kits and they had to be redone, that you can't get solid factual information, that doctors offices don't know, urgent care doesn't know, hospitals don't know, and if they do know you will be required to jump thru hoops and ridiculous guidelines to qualify for the test such as a physician being almost undeniably certain that a person has it but can't use the test because their temp is three tenths of a degree from meeting criteria, so they have to wait for testing and treatment as it were only to be rechecked in two days and be positive, it won't be the first time ppl will feel failed by CDC criteria or guidelines and won't be the last, and we're being headed up by huxter baffoons that can't organize their way out of a paper bag apparently. They have the power and ability to create, process, and distribute, every other product we use and or consume on a daily basis and they can damn sure do a better job with this. They have the top scientist, medical, manufacturing, and the Titans of industry at their disposal, not to mention our military, who are no one to play with, and should be able to do better. Certainly if all these other countries in the world have gotten all their testing kits and procedures on point, then we should as well. They should also be able to acquire the needed information for the test kits from an allie country and get these things out to the proper facilities. IMHO it's probably some petty asshats trying to figure out how much money they can gouge the US citizens for, holding the whole damn thing up. The system of priorities are plenty disturbing when it comes to medical need verses price gouging. There's no excuse as to why it's happening this way or any death that occurs due to this moronic inadequacy. It does certainly show the strengths or lack of, in the people with whom our lives have been placed under. They need to turn this around. Same goes for production of face masks, gloves and things of that nature, there's no reason why plenty can't still be made and stocked in the US. It's taking way more than the general public to buy up and hoard them for them to disappear. It would take major conglomerates and organizations doing it. Someone in the government needs to definitely think ahead about the poverty stricken areas, because those areas, if not careful, will be where massive outbreaks occur, especially homeless, shelters, and such. Every life matters.
I've absolutely no doubt that none of our 'leaders' and 'decision makers' are leading or making decisions for anything OTHER than filling their own pockets and pensions. We, in the U.S. are f*cked because these tone deaf, inefficient, vile a******s are scared any investment in public health, as in keeping our country's citizens healthy and therefore, productive and happy, SCREAMS of socialism to their ignorant, brain-dead asses. Cannot wait for every a*****e in D.C. to come down with it.
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Plain and simple, there aren't enough tests. They are saving the tests for worst-case scenarios. If the test was more readily available, I'm sure physicians would be more than happy to administer them to anybody and everybody who has potential symptoms much like they do strep throat testing.
In other words, to prevent that worst case scenario they’re saving the tests for.
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I live in Seattle and I can safely say this kind of represents the situation over here. It's this close to chaos. People are terrified, stores are barren, and everyone in authority is doing the bare minimum to keep the virus from spreading. Honestly, all this scares me more than the virus itself, it's like nobody cares
In Brazil it would be treated as common flu - take vitamin-C and go to bed. We all gonna die!
this is what you get when you have a cheeto for a president who says the corona virus is a hoax by his political competitors
Maybe the CDC needs to get back to its roots in science instead of participating in nonsense hoaxes. Their contribution to the "opiate" epidemic comes first to mind. It took them years to separate heroine and opium deaths from deaths contributed to opiates. To this day they still don't differentiate deaths caused by people mixing opiates with other drugs or using them as means to get high vs those that take them as prescribed (you really should fact check this, it's eye-opening). CDC leadership advanced an agenda at the cost of science. And this is the result. There is an overall danger when the science centers get involved in biased hyperbole. It affects objectively and can lead to disasters that cost lives. At the least, the CDC leadership needs to be replaced with people that hold facts and the scientific method at the forefront of its decision making, not the personal opinions of those leading the organization.
True that. And "To this day they still don't differentiate deaths caused by people mixing opiates with other drugs or using them as means to get high vs those that take them as prescribed (you really should fact check this, it's eye-opening)." Right on. I guarantee anyone who is taking opiates truly for management and to enable a semblance of life and movement isn't taking them to 'get high' and never will. How on Earth did OUR government and officials become the least worthy, least sensible and most asinine of them all?
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So it's not just Poland that doesn't really do much. We didn't have the virus till today ( first case), but one girl made a video from hospital she was in. She shown up there with all symptoms, and she could hardly breathe. She was in the hospital on hold, cuz they tried to get her to a special hospital. The special place didn't take her. Cuz she was 3 weeks earlier in Spain, and virus takes 2 weeks to show up. So f**k her i guess. She got tested for the virus, but they took blood and stuff at 14 and the laboratory works till 15. So she had to wait in a isolation room in a hospital filled with stuff that didn't know how to help her even. After 3 days there was still no response from the laboratory. She posted her video on Saturday, when she could talk finally, cuz from Tuesday she was in the hospital, with breathing problems. We will have fun here when the virus will go viral xD
I went to the Fast Care clinic week ago because I've had a cold for over two weeks and it started to cause an ear infection. Clinic was basically empty and I still felt rushed out by the Dr who only checked my ear and didn't listen to my concern about how long I've had this cold. Now my insurance is trying to charge me $50 for the visit when the copay should be $20 and I'm still sick. But hey, no longer have an ear infection! The US medical system is a JOKE and I'm not laughing
This outbreak proves that society is only as protected as its most vulnerable citizen. All well and good telling people to self isolate, but in the UK there are over 1 million people who have ZERO HOURS contracts which don't entitle them to sick pay- so self isolation is a choice between doing the 'right' thing or staying at work to feed their family. It's great that the vast majority of cases result in no threat to life, but that doesn't matter if you happen to admitted to an underfunded and overstretched NHS hospital on the day someone drops the ball and it results in a death. When it comes to inequality in society, the rich don't really care. But disease exposes the ridiculous conservative fallacy that there is "no such thing as society"*
Well, if you look back to other pandemics, such as the Spanish Influenza after WWI, or even the plagues, you’ll find that the rich died as easily, and in as large numbers, as the poor. Disease is a great equalizer; it cannot be contained in “certain” neighborhoods, and those who think their money will buy them immunity are merely deluding themselves.
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Geez people.. Take a chill pill and relax. "Im sick and I want to know if I have the coronavirus NOW". "Yep, you got the coronavirus." "OMG.. cure me im going to die".. "Sorry, we don't have a cure - best measure is to self quarantine" .. Did you ever wonder why the flu spreads so far, so wide, and so fast? Because people are selfish, conscienceless, and basically have the attitude "Im going to do whatever I want" .. They don't take CDC guidelines to stay home when their sick - noooo... They go out and do what they want. Touch plenty of surfaces, cough without covering their face, sneeze and only worry about their dripping noses not the people in front of them.. Come on people.. Its a respiratory infection - the CDC guidelines have not changed on how you protect yourself, or how you prevent it. Read and be enlightened.
This reflects back to state and local authorities preparedness. All these authorities going around and saying they're ready - then when it happens they're caught with their pants down. This is typical politician blunders - but it's at the state and local level that the blame needs to occur. Hopefully, things like this will be corrected; but if you're left in limbo then it's because no one has prepared your local hospitals. That is a scary thought tho; a system put to that sort of test only occurs when people start getting sick, and dying.
You failed to mention the other part of the political blunders—-continually cutting funding for such public services—-for decades—-leaving them dangerously understaffed, under-equipped, and undersupplied, so that when a real health threat emerges, there’s not a whole hell of a lot they can do to contain it. (BTW, I’m talking about the US here.)
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OMG this started as a horrible nightmare and it's become 1,000x worse when our own President senselessly puts out false information! Someone put a gag order on him so the rest of US can follow the people with the right answers! I wish all of humanity good health and long life! Be Well!
All of this terrifies me even more. I am in a high risk household with 3 of us having a history of mild-severe breathing issues, the oldest is in her late 70's with severe COPD. And this is the response people in the US are getting? This scares me. All of the cities around us have positive cases, it's just a matter of time.
In places that have declared a public health emergency in the US, price gouging is ILLEGAL. If you are buying for more than list price(check Amazon or store websites), call state officials to report them.
Very good point, Brandy. This too is reprehensible in our society. We are not a country of fellows, we are a cesspool of narcissistic, soulless, uncaring parasites, thanks to our lack of genuine leadership and governance.
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Can you guys do me a favor? Please sign this petition to temporarily close my school district because of the coronavirus. I live in the Seattle area and there have already been cases in my school district boundaries. My school district isn't doing anything about it. Here's the petition: https://www.change.org/p/lake-washington-school-district-close-the-schools-in-lake-washington-school-district-until-we-know-more-about-covid-19
This is what happens when a foolish man puts Mike F*****g Pence in charge.
As long US have a president, that trust his "hunch" more than educated doctors, it doesn't look good folks.
It's not that big in Canada yet, but has anyone had trouble getting testing in Canada, I want to know if we are following the same path as the US, despite our 'free' healthcare.
But wait! The president told us the coronavirus would be gone by now!
This runaround is basically the same as my experience. I had been in the hospital in NJ in a room next to a patient with a confirmed diagnosis. Found this out after I was discharged. I started to feel ill so I called the Hospital, Health Dept, CDC, primary care doc and my local hospital. Not one of those calls resulted in any answers. No one has a clue about what to do! USA is soooo screwed on this one.
All the more reason that "Medicare for all" is a good idea and would raise the USA up to near the level of all the rest of the large industrial democracies. Calling it "socialism" to deny rational health care system for this country is just plain evil.
Don’t fear monger, BP. You don’t need this content. It only induces anxiety, not solutions
Husband came back from DC sick, as he does every time. But now, fever and painful to breathe. Now I'm down with... something? Cough, feel hot, but no fever. We're both asthmatic, and I am immune suppressed. Just gonna hunker down here at home, washing our hands. Did you know hydrogen peroxide also kills viruses? If you can't buy rubbing alcohol, that is a good choice.
Sounds like anxiety. Stay safe but you are probably fine.
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Our tests are done in South Africa, which is the neighbouring country. This worries me. The state of our government hospitals is terrible. I just hope it doesn't reach us. It will be a massacre due to unpreparedness.
If this is the case in the US, then here in South Africa we are totally doomed!!!!
It's all great to criticise, but the issue is that there are very few tests so they keep them for the more serious or likely cases. Is everyone with cold or flu symptoms asks to be tested it's not going to be manageable. People who are sick should self quarantine. It's not up to the government to contain you by shutting you in a small room. It's up to everyone to do the right thing. And yes, wash your f*****g hands. And stop buying all the toilet paper. It's a respiratory illness, it doesn't come out of your a*s.
I sure hope people aren't surprised by our lack of preparedness. All one needs to see is tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber speaking about ANYTHING science related.
I am not surprised that the American health care system is not prepared for such an emergency. The funny thing is that Italy is now considered as a country of infectors while, thanks to its good quality health system, it has immediately carried out numerous checks, which obviously have found positive cases, given that we live in a globalized world. Other countries considered to be at the forefront, such as Germany, have carried out very few checks and in recent months have simply encountered "many more cases of seasonal flu" ... And so did France, England and most other European countries, which also have intense contacts with China. Except then accuse the Italians of having spread the contagion in Europe. Ridiculous. In any case, it's not the bubonic plague, so in all likelihood it will pass without devastating too much. Except for the economy of the countries, of course.
I'm Italian. I cannot be thankful enough for our healthcare system.
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If this is how well the USA handles Coronavirus, when the real Doomsday Plague hits, you know what will hit the fan.
The uberwealthy are now traveling by rented private jets, and I am certain that they have the means to do so not by a small measure because of all the tax cuts and the accompanying downsizing of the Bad Big State that should keep out of people's business. Like having a viral emergency response team on the ready. Americans voted the orange disaster into office. I sincerely hope that Americans will vote him OUT OF OFFICE ASAP. Please, please, please, register to vote and make use of it! Keep washing your hands and stay healthy.
Best way is handling it like Donald: ignoring facts, telling BS about and washing his tiny hands in innocence ;))) pray it away like Pence...
sneakcollector doesn't care about the millions lifted out of poverty during Trump's term. Nor the reduction in the wealth gap between blacks and whites. Nor the largest increase in wages for the middle class. Yes, the 1% will certainly be okay. But the poor are doing better than they were 3 years ago under nearly every financial metric. Sigh. Go back to your MSNBC broadcast, sneakcollector. Lap it up!
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No, it sounds like Trump-American. Loudmouthed, ignorant and cannot deliver when it comes right down to it. Tax returns, anyone?
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Hahahaha.....this is TRUMP'S fault? Can you Trump haters get any more stupid? He so owns you losers......
Well I know Trump haters are going to stone me but if what was typed on the picture there is true what he said I have to agree in some sense with him. I told my one friend yes the covid-19 is being over-exaggerated as a doctor in my country mentioned it is, but also said to my friend as I've come to learn the little I know about the covid-19 that it's a virus similar to pneumonia bacteria and the flu why not edit those meds to combat it or relieve the symptoms, yes I am aware it's all because it's a novel but still it's a virus like the flu or like pneumonia and both those illnesses killed people too before there was antidotes or vaccines for them. If pneumonia and flu vaccines are not going to work, there are so many strands of coronaviruses already with an antidote or a vaccine why not compare those with the covid-19 and edit or tweak the other coronavirus's antidote/vaccine. But we both discussed it and the mutual agreement ended like this: PART 2 in reply
PART 2: Then the Governments won't make the money they so greedily seek from you and the charity cash they receive from the rich to do make a vaccine...
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The United States is in a free fall with the Republitards in charge, turning our once proud nation into a kakistocracy and kleptocracy. Well, at least the 1% should be ok...
Agent K doesn't care about the millions lifted out of poverty during Trump's term. Nor the reduction in the wealth gap between blacks and whites. Nor the largest increase in wages for the middle class. Yes, the 1% will certainly be okay. But the poor are doing better than they were 3 years ago under nearly every financial metric. Sigh. Go back to your MSNBC broadcast, Agent. Lap it up!!
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You can be contagious yet have no symptoms for 14 days. So, um, you're a twat.
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Do NOT just go to a hospital - if you have it then you are spreading it to other, potentially vulnerable, people. Self-isolate as soon as you notice symptoms, let the authorities know and they will come to you to test you and/or to take you for treatment - but they'll be appropriately dressed and won't take you to parts of the hospital where you put others at risk.
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Problem with this is that you are advised NOT to go to a doctor's office or hospital setting, since if you have it, you are extremely infectious and will likely infect everyone you come into contact with, thereby spreading the disease exponentially.
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Yes let us all ignore the pandemic that is hitting other countries very hard and bask in the glow of an ill prepared government that should have started preparing the moment China started quarantining entire cities.
Load More Replies... I came back from an overseas trip a couple of weeks ago with a very high fever. Long story short, I called the free NHS 111 service to discuss my symptoms. They took my history and sent an ambulance for me. The guy in the back of the ambulance was fully kitted up with protective equipment. At the hospital, I was securely transferred to an isolation ward. I was given a ton of blood tests, including coronavirus. I was monitored constantly until the results came back. I did not have coronavirus, but I had a very contagious bird flu variant virus. Once I stopped getting fevers, they went over safety protocols with me and allowed me to go home and self-isolate for a further 10 days, with Tamiflu, which I did. I got immediate help, excellent care and everybody knew what they were doing, and I paid nothing out of pocket. This is why I won't hear a word against the wonderful employees of the UK;s National Health Service.
This is why I love the UK NHS. They are under staffed, under paid and under immense pressure but they still manage to treat us like humans and take care of us.
Load More Replies... One problem with all of this is that the symptoms are pretty near to every other disease like bronchitis and so on. Without the tests how would you actually know for sure?
What makes COVID-19 challenging is the obvious issues of authorities on the one hand yet the hystery of many people and the media on the other. You find all kind of articles that essentially are written like "Just wash your hands. Mild symptoms in most people. WE WILL ALL DIE, FLEE AS LONG AS YOU MAY. There is no need to worry." In my neighbourhood, shops have been solf out for long-lasting groceries. Doctors cannot shop for disinfectants since normal people bought them by the barrel. This is absurd behaviour.
In my country people bought face masks and disinfectants in bulk until they created a shortage and are now selling them for a profit. The government hasn't tried doing anything to tackle the issue. People suck.
Load More Replies... Health care is GARBAGE here in the US. I pay a lot and get terrible service regardless of I need. Even with premium insurance I still have to pay for visits.
Nothing beats a good public health system. Not even the best private care. Private care works for profit.
Load More Replies... And in a perfect response the president puts his veep (who has repeatedly said science is just some people's opinions) in charge. It's almost like he's afraid people will find out how utterly useless he is as a leader in a crisis so he throws someone even worse under the bus.
Since Pence was named to "head" this "response", the CDC homepage guidelines have changed, the update for Monday didn't occur, and th emilitary is only to be told what POTUS and Pence say they can. THis is ridiculous. Quarantine, hand-washing, and relax. The panic is worse than the disease... WHere I live, I swear my one neighbor is planning to SHOOT the virus!
Load More Replies... Welcome to tRUMPS America. This is only going to get worse. Look who is running things: pence, the guy who started a preventable HIV outbreak. I hope this thing bypasses us, but if it doesn't, while folks are dying, pence will be praying it away.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/pence-s-handling-2015-hiv-outbreak-gets-new-scrutiny-n1144786
Load More Replies... The US military cannot tell the troops anything President Trump hasn't approved. The CDC cannot say or release anything not okayed by VP Pence. Rely on yourself, but DO NOT PANIC. I'm not kidding. Unless you're like me (doing wound care for elderly parent) and NEED those supplies? Stick to hand-washing and common sense. If you ARE "at risk"... Consult your doctor. Don't buy out the stores and contribute to a wholly unnecessary panic and hysteria. The US gov't under its current leaders will not do anything sensible like quarantine, inform, and so forth ... So look to WHO, stay calm, wash your hands, and stay calm some more. PLEASE.
Yeah, good luck with that, America. These situations are the reason why you need a national, public, free health care system.
I live in the Seattle area. What concerns me is 8 of the 9 people who have died were all from the same nursing home in Kirkland. They weren't testing them either. Those family members are pretty upset because they visited their loved ones not knowing they were being exposed.
And they still haven't been tested! There's no excuse for this neglect!!!!
Load More Replies... I'm an American and I can attest that the U.S. health care system truly, truly sucks. As my mother, a Registered Nurse (and atheist) working in Critical Care in a hospital for 30 years, often says: "Do NOT get sick. And if you do get sick, do not go to a hospital. And if you must go to a hospital, goddess help you."
If she said "Goddess help you" she isn't Atheist, she is Wicca. The oldest religion in the world. Good for her.
Load More Replies... Don't worry America, Vice-President Pence is on it. The very same man who as Senator refused to pass legislation that would have given heroin addicts sterile needles in response to America's biggest HIV crisis, and who as recently as 2000 claimed that there is "no evidence that smoking will kill you".... I don't know what you're worrying about.
I have never been happier to live in rural Missouri. People around my area don't really travel much, so I'm crossing my fingers that we can all live in our own little virus free bubble. If not, I have a freezer full of food and seeds for a nice big garden. We'll just stay home and hope Bernie and his healthcare reform can get elected in November and put the country back together. I mean holy s**t, Gorge W Bush could have done a better job than the self centered idiot we have now.
I used to ride my bike behind the mosquito fog truck when I was younger so I am 100% positive that I am immune to this.
You mean the DDT truck? I’d watch out for cancer if I was you. My mother actually heard what Rachel Carson had to say about pesticides (she could quote chapter and verse from Silent Spring), and kept me inside when those trucks were in our neighborhood on summer evenings, so I never got to ride my bike behind them. Resented it then, but so grateful now.
Load More Replies... QLD Australia here. Called my Dr. They advised me to call the free health line where a nurse took my details then advised me to see my Dr within 4 hours and to advise them to isolate me upon arrival. I turned up..they gave me a mask and popped me in an empty Drs office. Dr came in with a mask on..swabbed my nose took my temp and listened to my lungs. Gave me a script for strong antibiotics and told me to self Isolate. Turns out I've just got pneumonia and rhinovirus. The whole process was quick and free on Medicare.
In Singapore everything is so efficient, the govt would even subsidize all testing for all suspected and confirmed cases in fear that people might not want to seek medical help due to financial reasons.
I'm not surprised at all at any of the information, that the CDC messed up the test kits and they had to be redone, that you can't get solid factual information, that doctors offices don't know, urgent care doesn't know, hospitals don't know, and if they do know you will be required to jump thru hoops and ridiculous guidelines to qualify for the test such as a physician being almost undeniably certain that a person has it but can't use the test because their temp is three tenths of a degree from meeting criteria, so they have to wait for testing and treatment as it were only to be rechecked in two days and be positive, it won't be the first time ppl will feel failed by CDC criteria or guidelines and won't be the last, and we're being headed up by huxter baffoons that can't organize their way out of a paper bag apparently. They have the power and ability to create, process, and distribute, every other product we use and or consume on a daily basis and they can damn sure do a better job with this. They have the top scientist, medical, manufacturing, and the Titans of industry at their disposal, not to mention our military, who are no one to play with, and should be able to do better. Certainly if all these other countries in the world have gotten all their testing kits and procedures on point, then we should as well. They should also be able to acquire the needed information for the test kits from an allie country and get these things out to the proper facilities. IMHO it's probably some petty asshats trying to figure out how much money they can gouge the US citizens for, holding the whole damn thing up. The system of priorities are plenty disturbing when it comes to medical need verses price gouging. There's no excuse as to why it's happening this way or any death that occurs due to this moronic inadequacy. It does certainly show the strengths or lack of, in the people with whom our lives have been placed under. They need to turn this around. Same goes for production of face masks, gloves and things of that nature, there's no reason why plenty can't still be made and stocked in the US. It's taking way more than the general public to buy up and hoard them for them to disappear. It would take major conglomerates and organizations doing it. Someone in the government needs to definitely think ahead about the poverty stricken areas, because those areas, if not careful, will be where massive outbreaks occur, especially homeless, shelters, and such. Every life matters.
I've absolutely no doubt that none of our 'leaders' and 'decision makers' are leading or making decisions for anything OTHER than filling their own pockets and pensions. We, in the U.S. are f*cked because these tone deaf, inefficient, vile a******s are scared any investment in public health, as in keeping our country's citizens healthy and therefore, productive and happy, SCREAMS of socialism to their ignorant, brain-dead asses. Cannot wait for every a*****e in D.C. to come down with it.
Load More Replies... Plain and simple, there aren't enough tests. They are saving the tests for worst-case scenarios. If the test was more readily available, I'm sure physicians would be more than happy to administer them to anybody and everybody who has potential symptoms much like they do strep throat testing.
In other words, to prevent that worst case scenario they’re saving the tests for.
Load More Replies... I live in Seattle and I can safely say this kind of represents the situation over here. It's this close to chaos. People are terrified, stores are barren, and everyone in authority is doing the bare minimum to keep the virus from spreading. Honestly, all this scares me more than the virus itself, it's like nobody cares
In Brazil it would be treated as common flu - take vitamin-C and go to bed. We all gonna die!
this is what you get when you have a cheeto for a president who says the corona virus is a hoax by his political competitors
Maybe the CDC needs to get back to its roots in science instead of participating in nonsense hoaxes. Their contribution to the "opiate" epidemic comes first to mind. It took them years to separate heroine and opium deaths from deaths contributed to opiates. To this day they still don't differentiate deaths caused by people mixing opiates with other drugs or using them as means to get high vs those that take them as prescribed (you really should fact check this, it's eye-opening). CDC leadership advanced an agenda at the cost of science. And this is the result. There is an overall danger when the science centers get involved in biased hyperbole. It affects objectively and can lead to disasters that cost lives. At the least, the CDC leadership needs to be replaced with people that hold facts and the scientific method at the forefront of its decision making, not the personal opinions of those leading the organization.
True that. And "To this day they still don't differentiate deaths caused by people mixing opiates with other drugs or using them as means to get high vs those that take them as prescribed (you really should fact check this, it's eye-opening)." Right on. I guarantee anyone who is taking opiates truly for management and to enable a semblance of life and movement isn't taking them to 'get high' and never will. How on Earth did OUR government and officials become the least worthy, least sensible and most asinine of them all?
Load More Replies... So it's not just Poland that doesn't really do much. We didn't have the virus till today ( first case), but one girl made a video from hospital she was in. She shown up there with all symptoms, and she could hardly breathe. She was in the hospital on hold, cuz they tried to get her to a special hospital. The special place didn't take her. Cuz she was 3 weeks earlier in Spain, and virus takes 2 weeks to show up. So f**k her i guess. She got tested for the virus, but they took blood and stuff at 14 and the laboratory works till 15. So she had to wait in a isolation room in a hospital filled with stuff that didn't know how to help her even. After 3 days there was still no response from the laboratory. She posted her video on Saturday, when she could talk finally, cuz from Tuesday she was in the hospital, with breathing problems. We will have fun here when the virus will go viral xD
I went to the Fast Care clinic week ago because I've had a cold for over two weeks and it started to cause an ear infection. Clinic was basically empty and I still felt rushed out by the Dr who only checked my ear and didn't listen to my concern about how long I've had this cold. Now my insurance is trying to charge me $50 for the visit when the copay should be $20 and I'm still sick. But hey, no longer have an ear infection! The US medical system is a JOKE and I'm not laughing
This outbreak proves that society is only as protected as its most vulnerable citizen. All well and good telling people to self isolate, but in the UK there are over 1 million people who have ZERO HOURS contracts which don't entitle them to sick pay- so self isolation is a choice between doing the 'right' thing or staying at work to feed their family. It's great that the vast majority of cases result in no threat to life, but that doesn't matter if you happen to admitted to an underfunded and overstretched NHS hospital on the day someone drops the ball and it results in a death. When it comes to inequality in society, the rich don't really care. But disease exposes the ridiculous conservative fallacy that there is "no such thing as society"*
Well, if you look back to other pandemics, such as the Spanish Influenza after WWI, or even the plagues, you’ll find that the rich died as easily, and in as large numbers, as the poor. Disease is a great equalizer; it cannot be contained in “certain” neighborhoods, and those who think their money will buy them immunity are merely deluding themselves.
Load More Replies... Geez people.. Take a chill pill and relax. "Im sick and I want to know if I have the coronavirus NOW". "Yep, you got the coronavirus." "OMG.. cure me im going to die".. "Sorry, we don't have a cure - best measure is to self quarantine" .. Did you ever wonder why the flu spreads so far, so wide, and so fast? Because people are selfish, conscienceless, and basically have the attitude "Im going to do whatever I want" .. They don't take CDC guidelines to stay home when their sick - noooo... They go out and do what they want. Touch plenty of surfaces, cough without covering their face, sneeze and only worry about their dripping noses not the people in front of them.. Come on people.. Its a respiratory infection - the CDC guidelines have not changed on how you protect yourself, or how you prevent it. Read and be enlightened.
This reflects back to state and local authorities preparedness. All these authorities going around and saying they're ready - then when it happens they're caught with their pants down. This is typical politician blunders - but it's at the state and local level that the blame needs to occur. Hopefully, things like this will be corrected; but if you're left in limbo then it's because no one has prepared your local hospitals. That is a scary thought tho; a system put to that sort of test only occurs when people start getting sick, and dying.
You failed to mention the other part of the political blunders—-continually cutting funding for such public services—-for decades—-leaving them dangerously understaffed, under-equipped, and undersupplied, so that when a real health threat emerges, there’s not a whole hell of a lot they can do to contain it. (BTW, I’m talking about the US here.)
Load More Replies... OMG this started as a horrible nightmare and it's become 1,000x worse when our own President senselessly puts out false information! Someone put a gag order on him so the rest of US can follow the people with the right answers! I wish all of humanity good health and long life! Be Well!
All of this terrifies me even more. I am in a high risk household with 3 of us having a history of mild-severe breathing issues, the oldest is in her late 70's with severe COPD. And this is the response people in the US are getting? This scares me. All of the cities around us have positive cases, it's just a matter of time.
In places that have declared a public health emergency in the US, price gouging is ILLEGAL. If you are buying for more than list price(check Amazon or store websites), call state officials to report them.
Very good point, Brandy. This too is reprehensible in our society. We are not a country of fellows, we are a cesspool of narcissistic, soulless, uncaring parasites, thanks to our lack of genuine leadership and governance.
Load More Replies... Can you guys do me a favor? Please sign this petition to temporarily close my school district because of the coronavirus. I live in the Seattle area and there have already been cases in my school district boundaries. My school district isn't doing anything about it. Here's the petition: https://www.change.org/p/lake-washington-school-district-close-the-schools-in-lake-washington-school-district-until-we-know-more-about-covid-19
This is what happens when a foolish man puts Mike F*****g Pence in charge.
As long US have a president, that trust his "hunch" more than educated doctors, it doesn't look good folks.
It's not that big in Canada yet, but has anyone had trouble getting testing in Canada, I want to know if we are following the same path as the US, despite our 'free' healthcare.
But wait! The president told us the coronavirus would be gone by now!
This runaround is basically the same as my experience. I had been in the hospital in NJ in a room next to a patient with a confirmed diagnosis. Found this out after I was discharged. I started to feel ill so I called the Hospital, Health Dept, CDC, primary care doc and my local hospital. Not one of those calls resulted in any answers. No one has a clue about what to do! USA is soooo screwed on this one.
All the more reason that "Medicare for all" is a good idea and would raise the USA up to near the level of all the rest of the large industrial democracies. Calling it "socialism" to deny rational health care system for this country is just plain evil.
Don’t fear monger, BP. You don’t need this content. It only induces anxiety, not solutions
Husband came back from DC sick, as he does every time. But now, fever and painful to breathe. Now I'm down with... something? Cough, feel hot, but no fever. We're both asthmatic, and I am immune suppressed. Just gonna hunker down here at home, washing our hands. Did you know hydrogen peroxide also kills viruses? If you can't buy rubbing alcohol, that is a good choice.
Sounds like anxiety. Stay safe but you are probably fine.
Load More Replies... Our tests are done in South Africa, which is the neighbouring country. This worries me. The state of our government hospitals is terrible. I just hope it doesn't reach us. It will be a massacre due to unpreparedness.
If this is the case in the US, then here in South Africa we are totally doomed!!!!
It's all great to criticise, but the issue is that there are very few tests so they keep them for the more serious or likely cases. Is everyone with cold or flu symptoms asks to be tested it's not going to be manageable. People who are sick should self quarantine. It's not up to the government to contain you by shutting you in a small room. It's up to everyone to do the right thing. And yes, wash your f*****g hands. And stop buying all the toilet paper. It's a respiratory illness, it doesn't come out of your a*s.
I sure hope people aren't surprised by our lack of preparedness. All one needs to see is tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber speaking about ANYTHING science related.
I am not surprised that the American health care system is not prepared for such an emergency. The funny thing is that Italy is now considered as a country of infectors while, thanks to its good quality health system, it has immediately carried out numerous checks, which obviously have found positive cases, given that we live in a globalized world. Other countries considered to be at the forefront, such as Germany, have carried out very few checks and in recent months have simply encountered "many more cases of seasonal flu" ... And so did France, England and most other European countries, which also have intense contacts with China. Except then accuse the Italians of having spread the contagion in Europe. Ridiculous. In any case, it's not the bubonic plague, so in all likelihood it will pass without devastating too much. Except for the economy of the countries, of course.
I'm Italian. I cannot be thankful enough for our healthcare system.
Load More Replies... If this is how well the USA handles Coronavirus, when the real Doomsday Plague hits, you know what will hit the fan.
The uberwealthy are now traveling by rented private jets, and I am certain that they have the means to do so not by a small measure because of all the tax cuts and the accompanying downsizing of the Bad Big State that should keep out of people's business. Like having a viral emergency response team on the ready. Americans voted the orange disaster into office. I sincerely hope that Americans will vote him OUT OF OFFICE ASAP. Please, please, please, register to vote and make use of it! Keep washing your hands and stay healthy.
Best way is handling it like Donald: ignoring facts, telling BS about and washing his tiny hands in innocence ;))) pray it away like Pence...
sneakcollector doesn't care about the millions lifted out of poverty during Trump's term. Nor the reduction in the wealth gap between blacks and whites. Nor the largest increase in wages for the middle class. Yes, the 1% will certainly be okay. But the poor are doing better than they were 3 years ago under nearly every financial metric. Sigh. Go back to your MSNBC broadcast, sneakcollector. Lap it up!
Load More Replies... No, it sounds like Trump-American. Loudmouthed, ignorant and cannot deliver when it comes right down to it. Tax returns, anyone?
Load More Replies... Hahahaha.....this is TRUMP'S fault? Can you Trump haters get any more stupid? He so owns you losers......
Well I know Trump haters are going to stone me but if what was typed on the picture there is true what he said I have to agree in some sense with him. I told my one friend yes the covid-19 is being over-exaggerated as a doctor in my country mentioned it is, but also said to my friend as I've come to learn the little I know about the covid-19 that it's a virus similar to pneumonia bacteria and the flu why not edit those meds to combat it or relieve the symptoms, yes I am aware it's all because it's a novel but still it's a virus like the flu or like pneumonia and both those illnesses killed people too before there was antidotes or vaccines for them. If pneumonia and flu vaccines are not going to work, there are so many strands of coronaviruses already with an antidote or a vaccine why not compare those with the covid-19 and edit or tweak the other coronavirus's antidote/vaccine. But we both discussed it and the mutual agreement ended like this: PART 2 in reply
PART 2: Then the Governments won't make the money they so greedily seek from you and the charity cash they receive from the rich to do make a vaccine...
Load More Replies... The United States is in a free fall with the Republitards in charge, turning our once proud nation into a kakistocracy and kleptocracy. Well, at least the 1% should be ok...
Agent K doesn't care about the millions lifted out of poverty during Trump's term. Nor the reduction in the wealth gap between blacks and whites. Nor the largest increase in wages for the middle class. Yes, the 1% will certainly be okay. But the poor are doing better than they were 3 years ago under nearly every financial metric. Sigh. Go back to your MSNBC broadcast, Agent. Lap it up!!
Load More Replies... You can be contagious yet have no symptoms for 14 days. So, um, you're a twat.
Load More Replies... Do NOT just go to a hospital - if you have it then you are spreading it to other, potentially vulnerable, people. Self-isolate as soon as you notice symptoms, let the authorities know and they will come to you to test you and/or to take you for treatment - but they'll be appropriately dressed and won't take you to parts of the hospital where you put others at risk.
Load More Replies... Problem with this is that you are advised NOT to go to a doctor's office or hospital setting, since if you have it, you are extremely infectious and will likely infect everyone you come into contact with, thereby spreading the disease exponentially.
Load More Replies... Yes let us all ignore the pandemic that is hitting other countries very hard and bask in the glow of an ill prepared government that should have started preparing the moment China started quarantining entire cities.
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