| "a very credible and personally-detailed report" isn't a medical test. Don't panic, but that doesn't make you safe. Anecdotally, a lot of people have started coughing around me (in Auckland) since Friday. At work, with the homestay family, at church, on the bus - every group had at least one person with a dry cough. "No fever, so the doctors said it's OK." Unfortunately, tests here in New Zealand cost 3000 NZD, and only people who have travelled recently AND show symptoms are allowed to be tested. Even then it takes hours on the phone to a helpline to join the queue. So far only about 500 people have been tested. I found an old N95 mask in the bottom of my bag that I used for air pollution in Taiwan. I've been wearing it in public since yesterday, and in the office today. I've been going for walks down by the river to get lots of fresh air, and sunbathing to get more UV. I bought 4 bottles of tonic water today, to share with all these people around. (Yes, I know the quinine concentration is too low to matter, but things like masks are sold out and the US/Europe need them more... I feel like I have to try something). My symptoms are barely noticeable (is that joint pain or RSI? shortness of breath or am I panicking?), but only when I started wearing a mask did other people take it seriously. The recorded cases in the country just jumped from 6 to 12 to 20 in the last few days. Exaggerate your own symptoms if you have to, instead of blaming someone else, and ask for personal permission to take sick leave. Take a week off for your wee cough. We've just been granted permission to work from home until the end of the week. Perhaps it'll be longer. Wash your hands, get a mask and wear it, drink tonic water and share it with everyone, try to take sick leave. I would love to see a web app where anecdata like this could be shared on a map (checkboxes of symptoms, severity, locations, number of people in groups). |
> Unfortunately, tests here in New Zealand cost 3000 NZD,
> and only people who have travelled recently AND show
> symptoms are allowed to be tested.
So they are assuming that they don't infect people either on the plane or when they land? This seems like dangerous thinking considering that the world is currently very aware of how contagious this is.
Also are you saying that it's $3000 out of pocket for the person infected? Or is that costed to the government? I think the US could be very heavily affected as people are not wanting to get tested in fear of associated health costs.
> I would love to see a web app where anecdata like this
> could be shared on a map (checkboxes of symptoms,
> severity, locations, number of people in groups).
100% this. Like the earthquake data that is collected from reports. Could also be a good opportunity to share good and up-to-date advice about the latest best practices.
I've not got a background in web-apps of any kind, but if you want some help to throw something together let me know.