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The pandemic situation in the United States is by no means over. Over the past 24 hours, nearly 228,000 new cases have been reported, a grim new record.
The weekly average of daily increases in deaths has passed 2000. That is almost 600 more than two weeks ago.
On Friday alone, 2607 new deaths were reported as a result of corona infection.
While the number of infections and deaths continues to rise, the pressure on testing capacity is also increasing, writes NBC News. Millions of Americans will be tested. A logistics operation from another world.
Dr. Geoffrey Baird of the University of Washington Laboratory System closely follows the diagnosis. He himself has managed investments of 30 million dollars, to build test centers and laboratories this year.
Although 1,500 employees currently work in the centers in which he has been involved, they fight to eliminate all consultations.
Alarms: – Danger of death
Home tests don’t help much
– The amount of testing we do now is incomprehensibly gigantic. “Still, it’s not enough if you look at the lawsuit,” Baird told NBC.
Less than a month has passed since the US authorities rushed through the first corona test that can be used at home. The test kit was approved for people over the age of 14 who a doctor believes may be infected with COVID-19 and gives an answer within 30 minutes. Still, people continue to flock to the test stations.
Test equipment deliveries are approaching the limit of what can be managed. Even the most basic equipment stocks are starting to run low in some places. Several laboratories have already raised the alarm about the shortage of equipment.
Dr. Gary Procop directs the Covid-19 testing at Cleveland Clinics. Briefly summarize the team situation: it’s scary.
– Life as a laboratory manager is not very comfortable at the moment, he tells the news channel.
– Don’t test yourself
The situation has led some to now get an unexpected response when they want to test themselves. This is especially true for those who do not have symptoms but still want to be tested to be more sure they are not carriers.
– We ask you not to go for the test, says Baird.
In some places, mass testing has been initiated in an attempt to more quickly weed out the large masses of people who come to test themselves, with varying degrees of success. This is done by collecting samples from a group of people and then analyzing them together in the laboratory.
Basically an efficient and equipment saving method when many are to be tested.
– In areas with high infection pressure, however, it has malfunctioned. When about 10 percent of the tests are positive, the ratio gets so high that it doesn’t help us, Baird tells NBC.
Vaccine treatment Thursday
As test queues increase, US health officials are warning that up to 20 million Americans could get vaccinated against the coronavirus before the New Year.
No vaccine has yet been approved for use in the United States, but the promising results of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines mean authorities are hopeful that many can be vaccinated before the end of 2020.
According to Stephen Hahn, director of the FDA’s Food and Drug Administration, the goal is for up to 20 million to be vaccinated by the New Year. The FDA must approve a vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine will be ready for treatment next Thursday.
“As soon as a vaccine is approved, I will be the first in line and will encourage my family to get vaccinated as well,” Hahn told Reuters.
