CDC reviewing ‘stunning’ universal testing results from Boston homeless shelter

[PeteS in CA]

https://www.boston25news.com/news/cdc-reviewing-stunning-universal-testing-results-boston-homeless-shelter/Z253TFBO6RG4HCUAARBO4YWO64/

CDC reviewing ‘stunning’ universal testing results from Boston homeless shelter
By: Drew Karedes
Updated: April 15, 2020 - 11:06 PM

BOSTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now “actively looking into” results from universal COVID-19 testing at Pine Street Inn homeless shelter.

The broad-scale testing took place at the shelter in Boston’s South End a week and a half ago because of a small cluster of cases there.

Of the 397 people tested, 146 people tested positive. Not a single one had any symptoms.

“It was like a double knockout punch. The number of positives was shocking, but the fact that 100 percent of the positives had no symptoms was equally shocking,” said Dr. Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which provides medical care at the city’s shelters.

This is an interesting look at how we have to discover:

* People can be asymptomatic from point of infection through recovery;

* People can spread this coronavirus pretty readily, but the rate of the people they infected not having symptoms may be quite high;

* The reasonably anticipated high death rate among homeless people hasn't happened, AFAWK.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Of the 397 people tested, 146 people tested positive. Not a single one had any symptoms.

Very scary.

[jmyrlefuller]

Very scary.

Or, on the other hand, encouraging, since it may mean this virus has been far more widespread than originally anticipated and that it is likewise far less fatal than anticipated. Or the testing is wack; my suspicion is the latter.

It's part of the reason I'm glad some places are using hospitalization data as opposed to tests that may or may not be reliable.

[Smokin Joe]

https://www.boston25news.com/news/cdc-reviewing-stunning-universal-testing-results-boston-homeless-shelter/Z253TFBO6RG4HCUAARBO4YWO64/

CDC reviewing ‘stunning’ universal testing results from Boston homeless shelter
By: Drew Karedes
Updated: April 15, 2020 - 11:06 PM
This is an interesting look at how we have to discover:

* People can be asymptomatic from point of infection through recovery;

* People can spread this coronavirus pretty readily, but the rate of the people they infected not having symptoms may be quite high;

* The reasonably anticipated high death rate among homeless people hasn't happened, AFAWK.

I would expect the homeless, because of their exposure to pathogens, have immune systems that are purt'near bulletproof, barring self-(or otherwise) injected pathogens.

[sneakypete]

Or, on the other hand, encouraging, since it may mean this virus has been far more widespread than originally anticipated and that it is likewise far less fatal than anticipated. Or the testing is wack; my suspicion is the latter.

@jmyrlefuller

Agreed!

I'm glad you wrote that. I was beginng to think it was just me,and I am not having a good "thinking" day.

[jafo2010]

This study, to use a Trump term, is GREAT NEWS!!!  I have known almost from the get go this virus was wide spread.  My wife and I believe we had it in early January, before we were even warned about the virus.

However, the CDC never developed an antibody test to determine just who had the virus.  Is there any reason why other than they are focused on destroying Trump?  I have no other answers for that.

This result mirrors outcomes on other studies.  We are shutdown unnecessarily.  Exceptions of course for hot zones, but there was never a need to shut the whole country down.  Pure idiocy.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Or, on the other hand, encouraging, since it may mean this virus has been far more widespread than originally anticipated and that it is likewise far less fatal than anticipated. Or the testing is wack; my suspicion is the latter.

It's part of the reason I'm glad some places are using hospitalization data as opposed to tests that may or may not be reliable.

Fair point.

[Bigun]

This study, to use a Trump term, is GREAT NEWS!!!  I have known almost from the get go this virus was wide spread.  My wife and I believe we had it in early January, before we were even warned about the virus.

However, the CDC never developed an antibody test to determine just who had the virus.  Is there any reason why other than they are focused on destroying Trump?  I have no other answers for that.

This result mirrors outcomes on other studies.  We are shutdown unnecessarily.  Exceptions of course for hot zones, but there was never a need to shut the whole country down.  Pure idiocy.

 

[Hoodat]

Of the 397 people tested, 146 people tested positive. Not a single one had any symptoms.

“It was like a double knockout punch. The number of positives was shocking, but the fact that 100 percent of the positives had no symptoms was equally shocking,” said Dr. Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which provides medical care at the city’s shelters.

Not shocking at all for us since quite a few posters here have been predicting this for weeks.  Get the antibody test going, and then get the hell out of the way!

[truth_seeker]

  Get the antibody test going, and then get the hell out of the way!

Does anybody know why "antibody" testing is more difficult than a normal Quest  or VA blood draw?

[Hoodat]

Does anybody know why "antibody" testing is more difficult than a normal Quest  or VA blood draw?

It should be easier since antibodies are much larger in size than viruses, thus easier to detect.  A test can be performed with a drop of blood.  The only hold up right now is hesitancy of the FDA, due primarily to Chinese manufacturers who are flooding the market with antibody tests that don't work.

[truth_seeker]

It should be easier since antibodies are much larger in size than viruses, thus easier to detect.  A test can be performed with a drop of blood.  The only hold up right now is hesitancy of the FDA, due primarily to Chinese manufacturers who are flooding the market with antibody tests that don't work.

A few days ago I posted a news article from the San Jose Mercury news, about several testing efforts, and either the same thing, I heard about efforts from Standford.

In my locale, many people report bad colds back during the Nov-Feb timeframes.
Evidence seems to be mounting that many have had something, possibly Covid19.

But little is known beyond that, for instance if a person testing with antibodies, is permanently immune, etc.

It continues to be a subject with many unknowns.

[jafo2010]

It is not more difficult.  The medical pukes dragged their feet, saying that is not what we need to focus on at present.  Plus, it is my contention that most of the key figures are anti Trumpers and they have been dragging their feet.  Anything to damage Trump's chances in November.

We will open the country up and still not have tests indicating what the level of infection has been.  People should have their head handed to them for this incompetence.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

It is not more difficult.  The medical pukes dragged their feet, saying that is not what we need to focus on at present.  Plus, it is my contention that most of the key figures are anti Trumpers and they have been dragging their feet.  Anything to damage Trump's chances in November.

We will open the country up and still not have tests indicating what the level of infection has been.  People should have their head handed to them for this incompetence.

I doubt President Trump is too dumb to see close-up what you see from your living room.

[Smokin Joe]

I doubt President Trump is too dumb to see close-up what you see from your living room.

It's like having an emergency inflatable life raft on a boat. It's there, it's supposed to be there in case the boat sinks. You won't know if it works until it's thine to use it. If it fails, you're treading water.

The agencies like the CDC and other emergency response agencies within the Federal Government are much the same. You don't know if they are working until you drop them in and pull the lanyard. In this case, there was a lot more incompetence than there should have been, now exposed.
Sure, it's evident now, but earlier, it was just hanging on the wall looking good.