re: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ***W.H.O. DECLARES A GLOBAL PANDEMIC***

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Tests last 3 days
74,384
65,105
65,840

What is the goal for daily amount of tests to both get on top of existing illnesses and infections and quickly test new infections and their possible contacts?

Trying to see how much progress has been made in past couple of weeks (it may have been listed as tests per week not daily or other but can't remember).

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People have said that we need 125,000-150,000 tests per day.

But that's only if we get them really soon. We're still behind the curve. We tested a lot more today, but we still had 16% of our new results positive, and our long-term average is 15%. So, our testing growth isn't yet keeping up with the spread of the virus.

We need to do enough tests to get that percentage under 5% before testing itself can really be a weapon in fighting the virus, and governments can start relaxing rules. In the meantime, we need stronger action to enforce social distancing.

President Trump needs to announce a national two-week shutdown period. Close the airlines, etc. Of course, governors would ultimately have control over their own states, but the President could put enormous pressure on them to act. It needs to be two weeks, because people move around, shop for supplies, relocate to live with other family, etc. -- and the virus actually spreads more in the first couple of days.

The idea that some places in the country don't "need" to be shut down right now because the virus isn't that bad yet in those places is completely wrong. We are already going to be pushed to our limit as a country with things like masks and ventilators, and we can't allow other parts of the country to get as bad as NYC and New Orleans.