3 December 2020
FULLERTON, Calif.– The post-Thanksgiving rush for coronavirus {testing|screening} is on: {Pharmacies|Drug stores} in the Southern California {suburbs|suburban areas|residential areas} are {advising|recommending|encouraging} {customers|clients|consumers} {lucky|fortunate} enough to score {appointments|visits|consultations} that it {could|might} be {four|4} days {before|prior to} they {receive|get} {results|outcomes}. In Chelsea, Massachusetts, a line of {people|individuals} who {hoped for|expected|wished for} {testing|screening}, {pelted|showered|assailed} by rain and wind, strung along {an entire|a whole} block early {this week|today}. In Atlanta, {people|individuals} {have|have actually} idled in {cars|vehicles|automobiles|cars and trucks}, {sometimes|in some cases|often} for hours, to get swabbed at drive-thrus.
{Testing|Evaluating|Checking} {has|has actually} long {been one of|been among} the {keys|secrets} to {controlling|managing} the spread of {a virus|an infection} that with the {onset|beginning|start} of {winter|winter season} is entering its most {dangerous|harmful|hazardous|unsafe} {phase|stage}. {Yet even as cases per capita {have|have actually} {rocketed|soared}, {securing|protecting} a test {has|has actually} {become|ended up being} enough of {an ordeal|an experience} that {many people|lots of people|many individuals} {have|have actually} been {dissuaded|discouraged|detered} from even {trying|attempting}.
| Even as cases per capita {have|have actually} {rocketed|soared}, {securing|protecting} a test {has|has actually} {become|ended up being} enough of {an ordeal|an experience} that {many|numerous|lots of} {people|individuals} {have|have actually} been {dissuaded|discouraged|detered} from even {trying|attempting}.
} That {has|has actually} {begun|started} to {change|alter} in {recent|current} weeks as a handful of {communities|neighborhoods} {across|throughout} the {country|nation} {have|have actually} {rolled out|presented} the {first|very first} {do-it-yourself|diy} {home|house} saliva tests, which {require|need} users to {simply|just|merely} dribble into a test tube, seal it and send it to {a lab|a laboratory}. As the tests {become|end up being} {widespread|extensive|prevalent}, they {could|might} {provide|offer|supply} a less-uncomfortable {alternative|option} to nasal swabs and {enable|allow|make it possible for} more {people|individuals} to {safely|securely} {return to|go back to} work and school in the months {before|prior to} a vaccine is {widely|commonly|extensively} {available|offered|readily available}.
In California, Orange County, {home|house} to Disneyland and {Surf|Browse} City, {last week|recently} {kicked off|began|started} {an ambitious|an enthusiastic} effort to {distribute|disperse} 500,000 home-use saliva test {kits|sets|packages} to its 3.4 million {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} by the end of December. Its {initial|preliminary} push {has|has actually} {focused on|concentrated on} Anaheim and Santa Ana, the {two|2} most {populous|populated} cities where the pandemic {has|has actually} taken an outsize toll on the Latino and immigrant populations.
{Among|Amongst} those who {stopped by|visited|came by|dropped in} to {collect|gather} {kits|sets|packages} outside the {Family|Household} Health Matters {clinic|center} was Sandra Reyes-Aceves, 48, who {lives with|deals with|copes with} her {two|2} teenage {children|kids} and aging {parents|moms and dads} in Anaheim.
“This is {the best|the very best} thing for my {parents|moms and dads}’ {safety|security}. I {don’t|do not} {have to|need to} make them leave {the house|your home|your house} to get {tested|evaluated|checked},” Reyes-Aceves {said|stated}. {Although {no one|nobody} in her {family|household} has {symptoms|signs}, she {said|stated}, she {worries|frets|stresses} that she or the {children|kids} {could|might} have the {virus|infection} and not {know|understand} it.
of the {virus|infection} and {help|assistance|aid} {persuade|convince|encourage} those who did not {know|understand} they were {infected|contaminated} to {stay home|stay at home} and {limit|limitation} {further|additional|more} transmission. “The {big|huge} {issue|problem|concern} is, how do you get more {people|individuals} to get {tested|evaluated|checked}? “{said|stated} Anne Rimoin, {a professor|a teacher} of {epidemiology|public health} at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “{Everyone|Everybody} {has|has actually} seen lines looping around {stadiums|arenas} and {urgent|immediate} cares.”
A test {people|individuals} can do {at home|in your home|in the house} and mail in “{really|truly|actually} {helps|assists},” she {said|stated}. “It isn’t going to end the pandemic, {but|however} it is {certainly|definitely} {a major|a significant} {step|action} {toward|towards} making {testing|screening} more {{accessible|available} and {widespread|extensive|prevalent}|{widespread|extensive|prevalent} and {accessible|available}}.”
Minnesota, now with {one of|among} the {highest|greatest} rates of {new|brand-new} cases in the {country|nation}, {became|ended up being} the {first|very first} state, in early November, to {offer|provide|use} at-home saliva {testing|screening} for all {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners}, whether they have coronavirus {symptoms|signs} or not.
{Once|When|As soon as} {a testing|a screening} {kit|set|package} is {ordered|purchased|bought}, it is {typically|generally|usually|normally} {shipped|delivered} within {24 hours|24 hr}. {During|Throughout} sample collection, users are {supervised|monitored} {via|through|by means of} Zoom by a health {worker|employee} at Vault Health, the {company|business} contracted by Minnesota’s Health Department to {manage|handle} the tests. {Results|Outcomes} are {available|offered|readily available} in 24 to {48 hours|two days|2 days}.
“With {community|neighborhood} spread at such high levels, we{‘ve| have actually} {focused on|concentrated on} {removing|eliminating|getting rid of} barriers to make {testing|screening} as {{easy|simple} and {accessible|available}|{accessible|available} and {easy|simple}} as possible,” {said|stated} Dan Huff, the department’s assistant commissioner for {health protection|health care}.
| For the time being, the tests are {likely|most likely} to lead to {higher|greater} case numbers.
} Kristine Grover of Blackduck, Minnesota, {said|stated} she {decided|chose} to {order|purchase|buy} the {home|house} test after her 12-year-old {son|child|kid|boy}, Keaton, came down with a fever, cough and runny nose.
“{We knew|We understood} he would {tolerate|endure} the saliva test {better|much better} than the nasal swab,” she {said|stated}. “I {ordered|purchased|bought} the test on a Monday, he {performed|carried out} the test on Tuesday, and we {received|got} the {negative|unfavorable} {results|outcomes} on Thursday {morning|early morning}.”
{A well-designed|A properly designed} saliva test can be as {accurate|precise} as a nasal swab test, {scientists|researchers} {say|state}. {Researchers|Scientists} {have|have actually} {found|discovered} {significant|considerable|substantial} levels of the coronavirus in oral secretions. Like nasal swab tests, saliva tests are {based on|based upon} polymerase {chain reaction|domino effect} {technology|innovation}, which {amplifies|enhances|magnifies} {small amounts|percentages} of viral {material|product} for analysis.
Sports {leagues, schools and colleges|leagues, colleges and schools|schools, leagues and colleges|schools, colleges and leagues|colleges, leagues and schools|colleges, schools and leagues} were {among|amongst} the early adopters of saliva tests, and {newly|recently|freshly} {developed|established} tests {have|have actually} been {hitting|striking} {the market|the marketplace} after winning FDA approval. Whether they {could|might} supplant nasal swab tests depends, in part, on how {quickly|rapidly} {labs|laboratories} can {ramp up|increase} production.
As {home|house} test {kits|sets|packages} {become|end up being} more {widely|commonly|extensively} {available|offered|readily available}, their success in {mitigating|reducing|alleviating} the spread of the coronavirus {could|might} {hinge on|depend upon} how {often|frequently|typically} they are {used|utilized}. {Communities|Neighborhoods} {offering|providing|using} the test {generally|typically|normally|usually} cover the {cost|expense}, if {a person|an individual}’s {health insurance|medical insurance} does not.
“What is {necessary|required|needed|essential} is for {people|individuals} to {test|evaluate|check} {frequently|often|regularly},” {said|stated} Jerry Cangelosi, {an infectious|a contagious|a transmittable} {diseases|illness} {expert|professional|specialist} at the University of Washington in Seattle. “{Home|House} {testing|screening} {is effective|works} if it can be done {repeatedly|consistently}, such as weekly, not {once|when|as soon as} a year.”
{Most|Many|A Lot Of|The Majority Of} {Read|Check Out} {Nation|Country} & World Stories {Several|A number of|Numerous} counties in New Jersey {also|likewise} {have|have actually} {introduced|presented} at-home saliva tests, although Burlington County suspended its {home|house} {testing|screening} program after {many people|lots of people|many individuals} {took {kits|sets|packages} and {failed|stopped working}|{failed|stopped working} and took {kits|sets|packages}} to {use|utilize} them. Of the more than 2,400 saliva {kits|sets|packages} {requested|asked for} by {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} and {paid for|spent for} by the county {since|because|considering that|given that} October, {only|just} 900 {have|have actually} been {mailed|sent by mail} into the {lab|laboratory}.
“{Unfortunately|Sadly|Regrettably}, {numerous|various|many} {people|individuals} {have|have actually} {requested|asked for} the test {kits|sets|packages} {but|however} {failed|stopped working} to return them with {collected|gathered} samples for {testing|screening}, {essentially|basically} keeping the {kits|sets|packages} {until|up until|till} they {decide|choose} they {need|require} them,” Herb Conaway, the county’s health director, {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}. “This is not how the program was {intended|meant|planned} to work.”
In California, where {a new|a brand-new}, {ominous|threatening} wave of the pandemic {has|has actually} {led to|resulted in|caused} a record {surge|rise} in cases, {widespread|extensive|prevalent} {testing|screening} {could|might} be {crucial|essential|important|vital}.
In Orange County, the rate of {new|brand-new} coronavirus cases {has|has actually} tripled over the {past|previous} {two|2} weeks.
While {upscale|high end} {coastal|seaside} cities, like Newport Beach, {have|have actually} had {relatively|fairly|reasonably} {few|couple of} cases, inland cities, like Santa Ana and Anaheim, {account for|represent} a disproportionately high share of {infections, hospitalizations and deaths|infections, deaths and hospitalizations|hospitalizations, infections and deaths|hospitalizations, deaths and infections|deaths, infections and hospitalizations|deaths, hospitalizations and infections}, and the {initial|preliminary} at-home tests are being targeted there.
“The {inability|failure} of some {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} who {lack|do not have} {means|ways|methods} to work {remotely|from another location} or quarantine {appropriately|properly} {has|has actually} {led to|resulted in|caused} {a disparity|a variation} in infection rates {between|in between} {communities|neighborhoods},” {said|stated} Andrew Do, vice chair of the county’s board of {supervisors|managers}. “Our {challenge|difficulty|obstacle} will be to get the message out: This is how you {protect|safeguard|secure} {loved|liked|enjoyed} ones, and we’ll {be able to|have the ability to} {go back|return} to {businesses|companies|services|organizations} and {interacting|communicating|engaging|connecting} with each other.”
Unlike Orange County’s nose swab {testing|screening} program, which {has|has actually} targeted {people|individuals} with coronavirus {symptoms|signs}, the {in-home|at home} saliva effort is {intended|meant|planned} to {widen|broaden|expand} {testing|screening} to {include|consist of} {people|individuals} who {might|may} not be {suffering from|struggling with|experiencing} any {symptoms|signs}.
In the {initial|preliminary} {phase|stage}, the county {has|has actually} partnered with {five|5} {community|neighborhood} {clinics|centers} to {distribute|disperse} 11,000 {testing|screening} {kits|sets|packages}. The test was {developed|established} by Ambry {Genetics|Genes}, {a local|a regional} {company|business} with {expertise|proficiency|knowledge|competence|know-how} in {genetic|hereditary} {diseases|illness} that {has|has actually} {converted|transformed} part of its {lab|laboratory} to produce the tests.
“Our test is, {literally|actually}, you spit up to a point in {the tube|television}, seal the cap and mail it in,” {said|stated} Aaron Elliott, the {company|business}’s {chief executive|president}, who compared it to {consumer|customer} {genetics|genes} tests like those from AncestryDNA. “It’s {much easier|a lot easier} than tickling your brain with a nasal swab.”
of Anaheim that is {heavily|greatly} Hispanic. Outside the {Family|Household} Health Matters {clinic|center}, Lisa Ramos, a quality-practice {specialist|expert|professional}, sat behind a table stacked with blue-and-white boxes. Each {kit|set|package} {contained|included|consisted of} a collection tube with {an unique|a distinct|a special} code, a biohazard bag in which to {place|put|position} the sealed tube and {a prepaid|a pre-paid} FedEx envelope.
Ramos {explained|discussed|described} in Spanish how to {properly|correctly|appropriately|effectively} {collect|gather} and return the specimens. Without asking {people|individuals} their names or taking any {information|info|details}, she {instructed|advised} them to {register|sign up} the test online. {Results|Outcomes} are {delivered|provided} by {email|e-mail}, and those who {test|evaluate|check} {positive|favorable} are {contacted|gotten in touch with|called} by {a health care|a healthcare} {provider|service provider|company|supplier}.
{Results|Outcomes} are {delivered|provided} by {email|e-mail}, and those who {test|evaluate|check} {positive|favorable} are {contacted|gotten in touch with|called} by {a health care|a healthcare} {provider|service provider|company|supplier}.
{The people|Individuals} who {stopped by|visited|came by|dropped in} to {pick up|get} {kits|sets|packages} all {said|stated} that they either {lived in|resided in} multigenerational {homes|houses} or shared {accommodation|lodging} with nonrelatives and {expressed|revealed} {concerned|worried} that infection {could|might} {easily|quickly} {spread|spread out} {among|amongst} them.
“This is {amazing|incredible|remarkable|fantastic},” {said|stated} Agustina Esteves, an Argentine {college student|university student} who works {part time|part-time} at {an auto|a car|an automobile|a vehicle} {repair shop|service center}, as she {picked up|got} {three|3} {kits|sets|packages}, for herself and {two|2} housemates. “I’m going to take the test {as soon as|as quickly as} I get {home|house}.”
{So she {heeded|observed|followed|hearkened} the Health Department’s call to {pick up|get} a test {kit|set|package} for herself and {four|4} {relatives|family members|loved ones} with whom she lives.
| She {heeded|observed|followed|hearkened} the Health Department’s call to {pick|choose|select} up a test {kit|set|package} for herself and {four|4} {relatives|family members|loved ones} with whom she lives.
}”We feel {fine|great},” she {said|stated}, “{but|however} we still {could|might} have the {virus|infection} and be passing it to {other people|other individuals}.”
Source: seattletimes.com