DRC breaking news -- UNT has four test positive for COVID-19

[Brett Vito]

Edited June 22, 2020 by Brett Vito

[MCMLXXX]

1 hour ago, Brett Vito said:

 

Yes, but what about the fourth?

[Hunter Green]

Has anyone been hospitalized?

[VideoEagle]

5 hours ago, MCMLXXX said:

Yes, but what about the fourth?

Oh, that math is hard.

[MeanGreenTexan]

6 hours ago, MCMLXXX said:

Yes, but what about the fourth?

Elementary, dear MCMLXXX.

See, the 1st, 2nd, & 4th ones are on staff.   The third one is the student athlete.

[97and03]

I hope the below was reported incorrectly because if not this makes no sense. You swab upfront to check for active infections. You don’t test for antibodies to determine who needs a swab test. Just makes no sense if true.  The limited research I have seen indicates if takes a couple weeks for antibodies to show. By then, an asymptomatic person would have very likely be rid of the active infection and test negative. Conversely an asymptomatic player with an active infection probably wouldn’t register antibodies yet. Even the swab test might show negative in the earlier stages of infection. You swab them all, repeat 10-12 days later. Then antibody tests if you want to see who had it at some point during the months prior to arrival. 

“The school’s football players are taking blood tests for COVID-19 antibodies upon their return. Players who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies are immediately given a follow-up nasal swab test and are isolated to prevent an infection from spreading.”

 

CDC on antibody tests:

 

• In general, a positive antibody test is presumed to mean a person has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at some point in the past. It does not mean they are currently infected.
• Antibodies start developing within 1 to 3 weeks after infection.
• Antibody test results should not be used to determine if someone can return to work.
• Antibody test results should not be used to group people together in settings such as schools, dormitories, and correctional facilities.

Serologic tests detect waning or past SARS-CoV-2 virus infection indirectly, by measuring the host humoral immune response to the virus. Therefore, serology assays do not typically replace direct detection methods as the primary tool for diagnosing an active SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they do have several important applications in monitoring and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[meangreen11]

 

[keith]

6 hours ago, 97and03 said:

I hope the below was reported incorrectly because if not this makes no sense. You swab upfront to check for active infections. You don’t test for antibodies to determine who needs a swab test. Just makes no sense if true.  The limited research I have seen indicates if takes a couple weeks for antibodies to show. By then, an asymptomatic person would have very likely be rid of the active infection and test negative. Conversely an asymptomatic player with an active infection probably wouldn’t register antibodies yet. Even the swab test might show negative in the earlier stages of infection. You swab them all, repeat 10-12 days later. Then antibody tests if you want to see who had it at some point during the months prior to arrival. 

“The school’s football players are taking blood tests for COVID-19 antibodies upon their return. Players who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies are immediately given a follow-up nasal swab test and are isolated to prevent an infection from spreading.”

 

CDC on antibody tests:

 

• In general, a positive antibody test is presumed to mean a person has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at some point in the past. It does not mean they are currently infected.
• Antibodies start developing within 1 to 3 weeks after infection.
• Antibody test results should not be used to determine if someone can return to work.
• Antibody test results should not be used to group people together in settings such as schools, dormitories, and correctional facilities.

Serologic tests detect waning or past SARS-CoV-2 virus infection indirectly, by measuring the host humoral immune response to the virus. Therefore, serology assays do not typically replace direct detection methods as the primary tool for diagnosing an active SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they do have several important applications in monitoring and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yeah, that's kinda backwards isn't it.  I think it's really important that anyone providing public data on COVID-19 be accurate and very specific in what they are reporting.  There's already plenty of mis-information out there.  For example, does "tested positive" mean they have an active infection with or without symptoms or does it mean that they have antibodies which means they had the infection at some point in the past and their immune system dealt with it?  

[Green Crazy]

 

[peanuts104]

14 hours ago, keith said:

For example, does "tested positive" mean they have an active infection with or without symptoms or does it mean that they have antibodies which means they had the infection at some point in the past and their immune system dealt with it?  

Both and neither.  It depends on the test.  Like what 97and03 said, antibody tests usually only show if you had it and antibodies don't develop for 1-3 weeks.  However, for people that have moderate to severe symptoms and especially those that require hospitalization, they would likely have the antibodies while also having symptoms.  Hospitalizations are lasting, from what I'm reading, anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks depending on severity.  The unfortunate part about this disease is we still know very little about it.  The article states that the four had an active infection. I would assume that means they are showing symptoms.