[OutsiderFan]

So SCC reported 1,700+ new cases today and +110 hospitalizations.  Just yesterday ICU capacity was at 11%. It's now at 9%.  

It seems any jump to conclude the last few days' dip in cases - and maybe a slight reduction of hospitalized - was a sign things had peaked. might need to be reconsidered. We better hope there is no Christmas holiday surge, or we will be in real trouble around here.

[OutsiderFan]

So SCC reported 1,700+ new cases today and +110 hospitalizations.  Just yesterday ICU capacity was at 11%. It's now at 9%.  

It seems any jump to conclude the last few days' dip in cases - and maybe a slight reduction of hospitalized - was a sign things had peaked. might need to be reconsidered. We better hope there is no Christmas holiday surge, or we will be in real trouble around here.

[M T]

So SCC reported 1,700+ new cases today and +110 hospitalizations.  Just yesterday ICU capacity was at 11%. It's now at 9%.  

It seems any jump to conclude the last few days' dip in cases - and maybe a slight reduction of hospitalized - was a sign things had peaked. might need to be reconsidered. We better hope there is no Christmas holiday surge, or we will be in real trouble around here.

I referred to the last week as a plateau. But no argument about the increase.  Sunday has traditionally been the day for the highest announced number of cases (batch runs from labs?).  Today (Monday) was 30 or so higher than Sunday.  

We are at the point where we'd be seeing the first cases from spread on Christmas day. (spread 4 days ago, symptoms at 2 days, tested next day(yesterday), announced today).  Or, as might be, infections during pre-Christmas activities (for shopping for presents or grocery shopping for a Christmas dinner).

Probably the latter:  Today's announcement includes coverage of 403 cases who sample was taken on the 26th.  Only 65 on the 27th.  584 on the 24th (Not surprisingly low of 102 on Christmas day).

---

By the way, a week or so ago, I had a forehead thermometer showing a 99.0 temp repeatedly, which would be at least a degree higher than normal.  Between that and some congestion, I considered getting a COVID test.   There were LOTS of places in the county to get a test if you have no symptoms.  But, with symptoms, I found it was severely constrained, at least in my part of the county.  The only 2 drive-ups in 10 miles were booked 3 days in advance at least.  Otherwise you had to see a doctor first (the test is free, but the doctor's appointment isn't).

Eventually, I thought to use an oral thermometer, which showed a <98.0 temperature.  The congestion reduced with allergy medicine.  (I hadn't been using the forehead thermometer since we started keeping our house at 65.  Maybe that contributed to the unexpected readings.)

I will also say that my physician is with PAMF.  They got fined by SCC for (basically) not offering easy access to COVID tests.  Absolutely right.  I looked all around and couldn't find access.   I think PAMF is a great place, with good docs, but offering COVID tests is not something they are good at.

[M T]

So SCC reported 1,700+ new cases today and +110 hospitalizations.  Just yesterday ICU capacity was at 11%. It's now at 9%.  

It seems any jump to conclude the last few days' dip in cases - and maybe a slight reduction of hospitalized - was a sign things had peaked. might need to be reconsidered. We better hope there is no Christmas holiday surge, or we will be in real trouble around here.

I referred to the last week as a plateau. But no argument about the increase.  Sunday has traditionally been the day for the highest announced number of cases (batch runs from labs?).  Today (Monday) was 30 or so higher than Sunday.  

We are at the point where we'd be seeing the first cases from spread on Christmas day. (spread 4 days ago, symptoms at 2 days, tested next day(yesterday), announced today).  Or, as might be, infections during pre-Christmas activities (for shopping for presents or grocery shopping for a Christmas dinner).

Probably the latter:  Today's announcement includes coverage of 403 cases who sample was taken on the 26th.  Only 65 on the 27th.  584 on the 24th (Not surprisingly low of 102 on Christmas day).

---

By the way, a week or so ago, I had a forehead thermometer showing a 99.0 temp repeatedly, which would be at least a degree higher than normal.  Between that and some congestion, I considered getting a COVID test.   There were LOTS of places in the county to get a test if you have no symptoms.  But, with symptoms, I found it was severely constrained, at least in my part of the county.  The only 2 drive-ups in 10 miles were booked 3 days in advance at least.  Otherwise you had to see a doctor first (the test is free, but the doctor's appointment isn't).

Eventually, I thought to use an oral thermometer, which showed a <98.0 temperature.  The congestion reduced with allergy medicine.  (I hadn't been using the forehead thermometer since we started keeping our house at 65.  Maybe that contributed to the unexpected readings.)

I will also say that my physician is with PAMF.  They got fined by SCC for (basically) not offering easy access to COVID tests.  Absolutely right.  I looked all around and couldn't find access.   I think PAMF is a great place, with good docs, but offering COVID tests is not something they are good at.

[Mick]

I think PAMF is a great place, with good docs, but offering COVID tests is not something they are good at.

+1, speaking as a PAMF patient.

[Mick]

I think PAMF is a great place, with good docs, but offering COVID tests is not something they are good at.

+1, speaking as a PAMF patient.

[OutsiderFan]

Do any of y'all know how the free testing at the Fairgrounds works?  I saw a news report that said they have free drive-in testing there, but does this mean you must have insurance?  Must you have a doctor referral? Or can literally anyone just drive up and get tested?

The SCC rep who I saw speaking said 40% of infections are asymptomatic, so I think they are encouraging everyone to get tested.

[OutsiderFan]

Do any of y'all know how the free testing at the Fairgrounds works?  I saw a news report that said they have free drive-in testing there, but does this mean you must have insurance?  Must you have a doctor referral? Or can literally anyone just drive up and get tested?

The SCC rep who I saw speaking said 40% of infections are asymptomatic, so I think they are encouraging everyone to get tested.

[BostonCard]

You can get testing through Project Baseline (from Google's Verily):

https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/

And if you are referring to the San Mateo County fairgorunds (and others in SMC), here's the info:

https://www.smcgov.org/testing

Generally, if you have insurance, they will bill your insurance for your testing.  If you don't, it will be offered at no cost to you.  Testing in SMC is available regardless of symptoms:

Testing is currently recommended if you:

• Have symptoms of COVID-19.
  
• Were asked by San Mateo County Health to get a test because of a contact tracing or outbreak investigation.
  
• Were in “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks.
  
• Work or live in places such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities, correctional facilities or homeless shelters.
  
• Are an essential worker with frequent contacts with the public in the following areas: health care, emergency, food and grocery services, factory workers in food and retail, public transportation, and education.
  
• Don't have symptoms but believe you may be infected now because you were exposed to people who were sick, were around many people who were not wearing face coverings, and/or were not keeping safe distance in the past 2 weeks.
  

BC

[BostonCard]

You can get testing through Project Baseline (from Google's Verily):

https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/

And if you are referring to the San Mateo County fairgorunds (and others in SMC), here's the info:

https://www.smcgov.org/testing

Generally, if you have insurance, they will bill your insurance for your testing.  If you don't, it will be offered at no cost to you.  Testing in SMC is available regardless of symptoms:

Testing is currently recommended if you:

• Have symptoms of COVID-19.
  
• Were asked by San Mateo County Health to get a test because of a contact tracing or outbreak investigation.
  
• Were in “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks.
  
• Work or live in places such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities, correctional facilities or homeless shelters.
  
• Are an essential worker with frequent contacts with the public in the following areas: health care, emergency, food and grocery services, factory workers in food and retail, public transportation, and education.
  
• Don't have symptoms but believe you may be infected now because you were exposed to people who were sick, were around many people who were not wearing face coverings, and/or were not keeping safe distance in the past 2 weeks.
  

BC

[M T]

Do any of y'all know how the free testing at the Fairgrounds works?  I saw a news report that said they have free drive-in testing there, but does this mean you must have insurance?  Must you have a doctor referral? Or can literally anyone just drive up and get tested?



The SCC rep who I saw speaking said 40% of infections are asymptomatic, so I think they are encouraging everyone to get tested.

Regarding the SCC Fairgrounds, there is an old (August) but detailed explanation of what they were doing (incl. a video "virtual tour") at
https://www.thefairgrounds.org/covid19/

NOTE that a posting yesterday indicates they are giving out wristbands for time slots and ask you to come back later, or tell you they have no time slots left.  The SCC web site about testing indicates the site is by appointment only.  That seems inconsistent with wristbands.

I went through the scheduling web page until I wound up at a "Enter your email to get to a web page for an appointment," so I can't tell if you can get an appointment today, or not until next week.  I also don't have an easy list of what sites I might (or might not) be able to get an appointment.

"By providing your insurance information, this allows for billing of your insurance for the cost of the test. This also allows us to continue offering more testing in the future. There should not be any out of pocket cost to you.If you do not have insurance, the federal government through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other legislation will be assisting in covering the cost."

No doctors referral needed.  The site apparently accepts those with symptoms.

In setting up an appointment, you will be asked who your healthcare provider is, and whether you have contacted them about a test.  The old (August) info indicated you would be asked for your health insurance provider (if any) as part of the registration info, so they could be billed. 


I certainly get the impression that the whole pressure for scheduling days in advance is for the group of people that get tested often, not for people that wake up and realize they have symptoms.  It makes me wonder about the %positive numbers in SCC and throughout the country as being anything more than a measure of how often that group gets tested.   One question they didn't ask was "Have you had a COVID test in the past N days?".

Hopefully, they reserve a significant portion of their testing capacity for people with symptoms to be tested the day of their request for an appointment, but I've never seen that confirmed.

[M T]

Do any of y'all know how the free testing at the Fairgrounds works?  I saw a news report that said they have free drive-in testing there, but does this mean you must have insurance?  Must you have a doctor referral? Or can literally anyone just drive up and get tested?



The SCC rep who I saw speaking said 40% of infections are asymptomatic, so I think they are encouraging everyone to get tested.

Regarding the SCC Fairgrounds, there is an old (August) but detailed explanation of what they were doing (incl. a video "virtual tour") at
https://www.thefairgrounds.org/covid19/

NOTE that a posting yesterday indicates they are giving out wristbands for time slots and ask you to come back later, or tell you they have no time slots left.  The SCC web site about testing indicates the site is by appointment only.  That seems inconsistent with wristbands.

I went through the scheduling web page until I wound up at a "Enter your email to get to a web page for an appointment," so I can't tell if you can get an appointment today, or not until next week.  I also don't have an easy list of what sites I might (or might not) be able to get an appointment.

"By providing your insurance information, this allows for billing of your insurance for the cost of the test. This also allows us to continue offering more testing in the future. There should not be any out of pocket cost to you.If you do not have insurance, the federal government through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and other legislation will be assisting in covering the cost."

No doctors referral needed.  The site apparently accepts those with symptoms.

In setting up an appointment, you will be asked who your healthcare provider is, and whether you have contacted them about a test.  The old (August) info indicated you would be asked for your health insurance provider (if any) as part of the registration info, so they could be billed. 


I certainly get the impression that the whole pressure for scheduling days in advance is for the group of people that get tested often, not for people that wake up and realize they have symptoms.  It makes me wonder about the %positive numbers in SCC and throughout the country as being anything more than a measure of how often that group gets tested.   One question they didn't ask was "Have you had a COVID test in the past N days?".

Hopefully, they reserve a significant portion of their testing capacity for people with symptoms to be tested the day of their request for an appointment, but I've never seen that confirmed.