Re:Coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions ...
by travisporter on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @09:19AM
(#22616288)
I was wondering if there’s an efficient way to screen a large population with low prevalence with limited tests. I’m thinking of the 1000 prisoner wine riddle with one drop of poison if that rings a bell
Re:Coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions ...
by steve_adams_86 on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @07:13PM
(#22622486)
I thought that, but then how do you explain situations like Italy? Such a tremendous number of people are suffering.
You're not applying the logic all the way through.
If a great number of people are already infected and do not require hospitalization it grossly affects the math on the potential for overwhelming our medical system.
Those infected people unnoticeable to minor symptoms have the potential to be the herd immunity we'd want from a vaccine.
> All that is to say that the situation can only be worse than we already know. I'm not sure more data would lead us to isolate less at all.
More infected people who are unnoticed because they don't show severe symptoms and require hospitalization actually makes the situation better. It would lower the hospitalization rate and alter the projections drastically in the direction of less epidemic.
We are being cautious right now. That, by definition, means we're likely overreacting.