Posted on 04/16/2020 9:40:06 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Cars stood in line along a Long Island town's street on Wednesday, with those inside waiting for a prick of their finger — a simple blood test that could bring a little peace of mind.
Those who lined up in Franklin Square all had at least one thing in common: all had been diagnosed with and recovered from COVID-19. Now they were trying to see if surviving the virus had given them the antibodies that would make them immune to getting it again.
"I feel like I want to know if I have immunity," said Elmhurst pediatrician Wilfred Lao, who recovered from the coronavirus in March. After receiving the test, it showed that Lao did have the antibodies in his blood that could provide immunity.
There were multiple police officers and doctors coming to the testing site, hoping they could get the test that may be the key to restarting the country's economy.
"You can go back to work know you're safe, and safe to other people to," said Dr. Ramon Tallaj, whose Somos Health Network is offering 70,000 free blood antibody tests. Gov. Andrew Cuomo called such tests a priority for first responders and essential workers.
"The more testing, the more open the economy, but there's not enough national capacity," Cuomo said.
The Somos Health Network said it will be opening sites in the Bronx and Washington Heights later this week. The tests will also be free there, but those interested have to call ahead to make an appointment.
However, there is a big question mark surrounding these blood tests: they are not definitive. The Centers for Disease Control says there's no proof COVID-19 antibodies give you full immunity to the virus.
"Will it give immunity for a week? For a month? Nobody knows,"
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnewyork.com ...
"Excuse me, I'm a reporter, can I ask you a few questions?"
"I suppose so."
"I see you folks all lined up here, what's going on?"
"I'm waiting for a little prick."
"Oh. George Stephanolous is sick with the virus so he couldn't come out. They sent me instead."
Or as George Carlin said: “You can prick your finger, but you can’t finger your prick.
Sure would be nice to get an antibody test here too.. considering a large chunk of folks may already be herd immunized... public health officials might be surprised how many already had this crud late last year... and how mnay of them missed it.
Sheep to the slaughter. Go ahead, give the Demonrat government your DNA. Make yourself into a 2nd class citizen if you don’t have the antibody. Forgive me Lord, but they are fools.
This has to be fake news. We shut the entire country down because no one can survive this Chinese flu. These have to be fake “survivors.”
Sounds like a waste of a test. They’ve ALREADY HAD the Chinese Beer Virus. If their body didn’t produce antibodies, they’d be dead. Of course, this is a country any more that has to run a test for being “male” even if you have a dick.
They should be doing random statistical sampling to see how many asymptomatic people have been exposed without even knowing it.
I’m no flubro, but they’ve gone for reasonable “Flatten the curve so we don’t descend to Zimbabwe ooga booga witch doctor health care” to the “Because I said so!” “Oooh bright shiny fun fun fun big red Emergency Power button!”.
If you want first world modern science based health care, you have to keep your first world modern prosperous economy to be able to afford it. It’s time for some common sense.
*no one can survive this Chinese flu*
Who said that ? I don’t recall.
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