Reason for Corona Virus Spike - Definitions

This is just like the aerosolized vs airborne debate.

There are three main categories for covid:

Positive case - lab test from nasal/throat swabs

Probable case - this is where the issues is, will explain it below

Confirmed case - this is the number that gets reported and counted. It consists of positive and prable.

Now that how they count them is clear, let's look at the probable cases:

1. Meets clinical criteria AND epidemiologic linkage criteria with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19,
OR
2. Using a method approved or authorized by the FDA or designated authority, meets presumptive laboratory evidence of:
- Detection of specific antigen (Ag) in a clinical specimen, OR
- Detection of a specific antibody in serum, plasma, or whole blood indicative of a new or recent infection,
-AND meets either clinical criteria OR epidemiologic linkage criteria.
OR
Meets vital records criteria (death certificate lists COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death) with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19.

Clinical criteria:
- At least two of the following symptoms: fever (measured or subjective), chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, new olfactory and taste disorder(s); OR
- At least one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; OR
- Severe respiratory illness with at least one of the following: clinical or radiographic evidence of pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
AND
-No alternative more likely diagnosis

Epidemiologic linkage criteria: One or more of the following exposures in the last 14 days before onset of symptoms:
-Close contact* with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 disease
-Close contact* with a person with clinically compatible illness AND linkage to a confirmed case of COVID-19 disease.
- Travel to or residence in an area with sustained, ongoing community transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
-Member of a risk cohort as defined by public health authorities during an outbreak (ex. symptomatic residents of a nursing home where at least one laboratory confirmed COVID-19 case has been identified).
[link to www.dshs.state.tx.us (secure)]


In other words, they do not need to test you. If you have 2 minor symptoms or 1 major symptom and are in any county with sustained & ongoing community transmittion then you are a probable case.
If you have allergy headache and a sore throat, then you are a probably case.

One step further, person is taken to hospital of possible stroke or heart attack and are coughing, then it's a probable case. If they need to be hospitalized (for the stroke or heart attack) and they are a probable case...case where they will be staying...yep, the covid wing.

Now that that person is probable, anyone in close contact with them is also. That is everyone in their household is now a probable case!!

Wait to you see about the deaths that is explained in the video. Bottom line, the more cases a county has the more funding they get.
Here is a video of the Collin County Commishioners Court where they brought in someone to explain the changes to them. The example she uses is under the old classifications there was one confirmed case, under the new way it was 17 cases.



Go to the 15:30 mark on the video here:
[link to collincountytx.new.swagit.com (secure)]