What is the definition of a new "case"? Is it anyone who tests positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus? If yes, what do they call those who are positive, but have never been tested? Are they not by definition "new cases" as well, because after all they are positive too. Point being, if you lump everyone who tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 into one group as new "cases"... then clearly the data gets instantly skewed... because there is without question only a partial count of the so-called new cases. Therefore, the more correct definition of a new case should be a person who is examined by a trained healthcare professional and diagnosed to have Covid-19 disease and is found to be sick enough to be admitted to a hospital, a case file is opened, and treatment begins. Those not sick enough to be admitted to a hospital for treatment should NOT be called new cases, they should be called symptomatic, quarantined and quantified separately as such, unless they should become ill enough to be hospitalized, at which time they would be re-categorized as new cases. Those who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, but show no symptoms should NOT be called new cases, they should be called asymptomatic, but not new cases, unless they should become ill enough to be hospitalized at a later time, at which time they would be re-categorized as new cases. Categorizing these 3 groups separately, would greatly reduce the number of so-called "new cases" and thus reduce the fear mongering by the news media (news media loves fear... because fear butters their bread) and to also reduce the soon to follow lock down measures that most public officials are all to eager to implement (because power brokers love using their power).
DD, you can google the answers to your questions. There's already an established method and terminology for reporting cases, and it isn't changing that I know of. At least not multiple times with different confusing terminology and acronyms as has happened here in the Philippines. Getting the news out isn't fearmongering to me, that's why I read the news mostly. I can control what I read - a headline, a blurb, or a short or long article. Watching TV traps you there for a bit. I get tired of it and do something else.
I I disagree. A positive, non-hospitalised virus carrier is as important as one hospitalised in terms of determining the spread of virus infection. The LGUs offer very clear categorisations.
I think they are clear. I think this last article cleared up Local Transmission vs Community Spread for me, as I've never seen the criteria for community spread. The change in acronyms for OFWs, etc., threw me off for a bit. What's strange is I get no sense at all that Covid is a political football here. It is elsewhere but not here in the Philippines.
There is plenty of blaming going on for the Covid here. PhilHealth, Red Cross and Sec Duque all coming under constant fire. If you read the comments on some of the news articles, it is as bad here as elsewhere, just a different level.
That's very different from what's going on elsewhere. Phil health was fraud. Red Cross was lack of payment. Here, it's the APOR - which is much closer. I read comments, but it's not in the same league as a specific elsewhere. I discount expats.
This statement assumes a fatality rate in 60+/Negros resident/other 'high risk' illness with Covid-19 of at least 50%, if not more - and that is plainly not correct. I don't know the actual figure but it must be much lower than that.
Not wishing to kick off the whole debate about masks again, but as that is the topic of the thread, thought I'd share recent experience. Visited the city centre public market on Saturday. Notice at the entrance saying that mask+face shield required for entry. The 'enforcer' at the gate was wearing his face shield on top of his head, as were most vendors and customers inside. We went to enter and he stopped us and said we need a face shield. He pointed to the vendor outside and said to the wife, 'only 20 pesos ma'am'. The wife pointed at that neither he nor anyone else inside were wearing their shields correctly, so what were they for? he said, sorry ma'am, policy'. At this she went into full bore foreigner mode, telling him we could afford to buy shields, but it's pointless if nobody wears it correctly and shamed him into pulling his shield over his face. He didn't bother asking anyone to wear their shields correctly and would not give in to us, so we walked away, me with my mouth open at the wife's outburst. Today, after taking over an hour to do 5kms into town (what a great idea having a half-price fuel promotion three days before Christmas), we visited Hypermart on the way back. Face mask and shield required. Inside were guards wandering around, politely asking customers to wear their face shields correctly, backed up by continuous PA announcement. How refreshing that there are some institutions that can actually do it correctly here.
Face masks now mandatory in cars even if all passengers are from the same household.. AAAAARGHHH NO NO, please stop the madness now
