Some perspective on testing.

[AirmensMom]

I live in a county with just over 69,000 residents. According to the TN's DOH website, we have 35 total cases as of today. There have been 349 negative labs. State-wide, we have 7,238 cases and 93,451 negative labs out of a population of 6.829 million. Our governor is going to open the state on May 1. And he has said that anyone who wants to be tested can be tested, which is actually a lie. You have to be experiencing a specific set of symptoms in order to be tested.

Anyone see a problem with any of this?

[Newest Reality]

1. Certainly.

It is my opinion that your Governor will be "reopening" just prior to a potential second wave where the number of cases and the mortality rate could exceed what we have seen so far and that mentality just contributes to it. It is far too early yet.

I think we have way too many potential, asymptomatic carriers out there flaunting their freedoms and joining the Famous Last Words brigade as they race to get their posthumous recognition for it.

Without the right kind of testing, readily available in the required numbers reopening is restarting it. I just can't shake the idea that it will be far, far worse this time because we have so many infected vectors now and the exponential impact could easily make it huge.

[AirmensMom]

3. I agree.

One thing that is particularly concerning is that some of my friends who run a small restaurant (VERY close quarters) will be opening then ... after posting message after message on FB about staying home. WTF?

I'm just going to stay put. Until we can all be tested, we can't know where we are. I expect the second wave to be very bad.

[Newest Reality]

6. Smart move!

I think the term should be: Proceed with caution.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

[AirmensMom]

7. Well, I haven't been anywhere since March 13,

except to sign my new will, which I did from the car with mask and gloves on. The attorney brought the papers to the car and he was also wearing a mask and gloves. He only got close enough to hand us the papers. My husband goes grocery shopping once a week, and has worn mask and gloves for the last 2 weeks so far. That's it.

COVID-19 is not how I want to die.

[gibraltar72]

2. Last I knew your peak was supposed to be about three weeks from now

I'd say it's a perfect time. It can all be blamed on him and Trump.

[AirmensMom]

4. I can't remember.

I sort of thought it was soon-ish. Still, the numbers are growing every day. That alone should shut down any idea of opening up on May 1.

[gibraltar72]

5. I believe Vanderbilt study showed mid next month.

[AirmensMom]

8. Then we are fucked.

Big time. I'm starting to envy my family members who didn't have to live through this. They all died while we had a real president.