There is one number that we read about every day that drives me crazy.
Every morning there is a breathless headline about the total number of "cases," and how it has INCREASED since yesterday!
This is nonsense.
And here's why: Let's say I get a positive test today. Chances are I will either have no symptoms at all, or get some mild symptoms and be in bed for a couple days. Maybe I'll die. But regardless, after a period of time I will have recovered from the disease, I will get a negative result, and I AM NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS OR SICK.
But my positive test is still counted among the mountain of U.S. "cases." Who gives a fuck?
The only relevant and important number with respect to "cases" is the number of people who are CURRENTLY POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE. It seems to me that after some period of time, it should be presumed that each and every recorded "case" is no longer applicable. One way or another, the person is no longer POSITIVE.
If "we" tracked this information, then it would be possible to assess the current situation w/r/t the disease. This week we have X number of people who are CURRENTLY TESTING POSITIVE. Then if the number goes up that is a noteworthy development, as would be the number decreasing.
The CDC records about 7.5 million "cases." So what? It is meaningless.
Every morning there is a breathless headline about the total number of "cases," and how it has INCREASED since yesterday!
This is nonsense.
And here's why: Let's say I get a positive test today. Chances are I will either have no symptoms at all, or get some mild symptoms and be in bed for a couple days. Maybe I'll die. But regardless, after a period of time I will have recovered from the disease, I will get a negative result, and I AM NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS OR SICK.
But my positive test is still counted among the mountain of U.S. "cases." Who gives a fuck?
The only relevant and important number with respect to "cases" is the number of people who are CURRENTLY POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE. It seems to me that after some period of time, it should be presumed that each and every recorded "case" is no longer applicable. One way or another, the person is no longer POSITIVE.
If "we" tracked this information, then it would be possible to assess the current situation w/r/t the disease. This week we have X number of people who are CURRENTLY TESTING POSITIVE. Then if the number goes up that is a noteworthy development, as would be the number decreasing.
The CDC records about 7.5 million "cases." So what? It is meaningless.