[Global Network Report Reporter Hou Jiaxin] How difficult is it to do new coronavirus testing in the United States? A cnn report on the 6th about the experience of a confirmed patient in Washington State may give an answer. The report quoted the confirmed patient's son as saying that his mother had been repeatedly dissuaded from going to the hospital before being diagnosed with new crown pneumonia. And now, she finally lives in the hospital.
(Screenshot of CNN report)
Amir Medawar, the confirmed patient's son, told CNN that his mother, Odette, lives in the Life Care Center. Last Sunday (1st), Odette sounded like she was sick when she spoke to him. So Medawa wanted his mother to go to the hospital. However, he was told by the nurse that Odette did not need to go to the hospital.
(Amir Medawa was interviewed about her mother's testing experience.) Image source: CNN)
"(That day) afternoon, the nurse called me back and said everything was fine," Medawa said, "and the nurse said that Odette had tested negative for COVID-19 and that she had no reason to go to the hospital." ”
Medawa went on to say that he again tried to arrange an ambulance for his mother, but "was told many times that if they (the ambulance) took her to the hospital, the hospital would only turn around and send her back." ”
Medawa tried something else. He made several phone calls to a hospital in Kirkland, where a nurse at the hospital suggested he take his mother to the emergency room. According to Medawa, his mother was finally taken to the hospital from the "Life Care Center" on Monday (2nd) morning. After testing, his mother tested positive for the new crown virus. However, Medawa said her mother's symptoms were mild and she was expected to get better.
Odette is not the only infected person in the care center. According to CNN reported on the 4th, local health officials said on Monday (2nd) that more than 50 residents and staff in a nursing facility called "Life Care Center" in Kirkland, King County, Washington, had symptoms and underwent testing for the new crown virus. Officials said at least nine people at the nursing home were infected with the coronavirus.
Washington State is the hardest hit area of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in the United States, and the data released by the Washington State Health Department on the official website shows that as of 11 o'clock local time on the 6th, there were 11 deaths and 79 confirmed cases in the state. Like most parts of the United States, Washington State faces kit shortages.
(Screenshot of the official website of the Washington State Department of Health)
Washington Governor Jay Insley said Thursday (5th) that the state will help people without health insurance pay for testing for the new crown virus. However, due to the limited number of kits, Insley can only recommend that patients with mild diseases should stay at home and rest, even if they have mild symptoms, they do not need to be tested.