L.A. County gives up on containing coronavirus, tells doctors to skip test

[BUtterfield 8 41,818]

The nation’s second-largest municipal health system has told its staff that it is essentially abandoning hope of containing the coronavirus outbreak and instructed doctors not to bother testing symptomatic patients if a positive result won’t change how they would be treated.

The guidance, sent by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services to its doctors on Thursday, was prompted by a crush of patients and shortage of tests, and could make it difficult to ever know precisely how many people in L.A. County contracted the virus.

The department “is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality,” according to the letter. Doctors should test symptomatic patients only when “a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response.”

The guidance sets in writing what has been a reality all along. The shortage of tests nationwide has meant that many patients suspected of having COVID-19 have not had the diagnosis confirmed by a laboratory.

In addition to the lack of tests, public health agencies across the country lack the staff to trace the source of new cases, drastically reducing the chances of isolating people who have been exposed and thereby containing the outbreak.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-20/coronavirus-county-doctors-containment-testing

[xoxo Craig 55,649]

Uhm what?    Rest In Peace Los Angeles 

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

So basically I'm f@cked where I live...

[Fish 6,259]

the US is basically ****ed. i hope other nations can help.. 

[Arturo 40,746]

Um...did we read the same article? It sounds like if people come in with severe symptoms that LA county is going to treat them the way they would a coronavirus patient instead of testing them and waiting. Their goal is to cut the fatality rate. The title isn’t necessary.

[Franch Toast 27,737]

Thank goodness I don't live near L.A., but anyway, this is why I'm actually taking this physicall distancing/quarantining business seriously. Be safe y'all. 

[AlexanderMagno 10,746]

Clickbait title.

You don't need to test everyone with symptoms, only people with severe illness. Young people, people with mild symptoms, should just simply isolate themselves. 

[Ladey Gaygay 9,321]

[Arturo 40,746]

“The department “is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality”

I think any expert could tell you containtment is out of the question in large metropolitan areas. Slowing transmission and flattening the curve has been the goal for quite some time in these big risk areas

[LOVEDRUG 11,254]

49 minutes ago, Fish said:

the US is basically ****ed. i hope other nations can help.. 

The US is the richest country in the world, it shouldn't need help tbh  It's all poor management and planning

[Fish 6,259]

1 hour ago, Autumn said:

The US is the richest country in the world, it shouldn't need help tbh  It's all poor management and planning

k stay alone lol

 

help can come in various ways