Mass testing, empty ICUs: Germany scores early against virus

[Judi Lynn]

Frank Jordans, Associated Press Updated 7:56 am CDT, Wednesday, April 1, 2020

BERLIN (AP) — Late last year — long before most people had heard of the new coronavirus now sweeping the globe — scientists in Germany sprang into action to develop a test for the virus that was causing an unusual respiratory disease in central China.

They had one by mid-January — and labs around the country were ready to start using it just weeks later, around the same time that Europe's most populous country registered its first case.

“It was clear that if the epidemic swept over here from China, then we had to start testing," said Hendrik Borucki, a spokesman for Bioscientia Healthcare, which operates 19 labs in Germany.

That quick work stands in stark contrast to delays and missteps in other countries. Coupled with Germany's large number of intensive care beds and its early social distancing measures, it could explain one of the most interesting puzzles of the COVID-19 pandemic: Why are people with the virus in Germany currently dying at much lower rates than in neighboring countries?

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Mass-testing-empty-ICUs-Germany-scores-early-15170704.php

[dlk]

1. Early and aggressive action matters

Conversely, we are living with the fallout of intentional inaction.

[Phoenix61]

2. Like us with H1N1. Early, mass testing.

Since the flu and covid’s early presentation is similar ready access to testing would mean people with covid would be identified earlier in the disease process. I would think that would have to improve the outcome. How many people here have put off even trying to get tested because it’s so damn difficult and decided to wait it out because maybe it’s just the flu.

[lagomorph777]

3. Trump is delaying testing and refusing to use Defense Procurement Act for 2 reasons:

(1) He was hired by Putin to harm America. Heckuva job he's doing.
(2) He wants to help his cronies profiteer by creating a bidding war between states, and also against the Federal Government. This is a deliberate perversion of the normal emergency process.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. K&R

[dflprincess]

5. It was when I read this article in the Star Tribune that I really hit a wall

It didn't have to be this way. If only we had a strong, intelligent leader like Germany has.

[Nululu]

6. PBS had a segment about this on their newshour.

Also Germany is taking covid patients from other countries. They also profiled the successes in Taiwan.