I am not en Epidemiologist, or a Scientist, or even a Dr or RN. I am a CT Tech. I work in the ER/Trauma. I have been doing my job for 25 years. I can only tell you what I personally see trending with COVID.
The ”Curve” was flattening. Things seemed to be getting better. They removed the tents where potential covids were screened or kept at the hospital until they either got a room or discharged. People were starting to relax. Everything started opening back up.
I can tell you that, by personal observation, IT IS SO MUCH WORSE NOW. We dont have enough beds for them all. I scanned an adult located in the pediatric icu, because our icus are full because one of the icus is now dedicated to covid pts.
This cannot be stressed enough. In the past few weeks, we have gotten...just on my 8 hour shifts, 4-8 covids per shift. Sometimes more if the whole stinkin family shows up at once. Last week I was walking to the employee entrance and 3 men were like hot on my tail, practically breathing down my neck with no masks on. I got in the door and turned around “hi, we tested positive”. I backed up and let the doors close lol. I didnt know what else to do lol. I gestured to them where the ER was and called the charge nurse to give her a heads up that 3 covids were checking in.
My sisters boyfriend owns a shop. Every single one of the guys just tested positive, except for him because he is usually in the office.
The rapid covid test is crap. It has a 30% accuracy rate. Patients come in, test negative...so you feel safe to get them for their test, right? Wrong. Days down the road you are getting a phone call from infection control that you were exposed to that same guy who tested negative with the rapid. And you don't even have time to wait for rapid results with traumas or stroke alerts, so you “assume” everybody is positive.I have made it my practice to write down on my paperwork whether or not i had on an n95 for every pt so i know what to tell infection control when they call.
There was a girl Thursday....generally healthy in her 20s. Cant breathe. Oxygen sats in the 80s. Rapid test is negative. Im like oh hell no. Suited up to scan her. “Bilateral ground glass opacities”, which is the typical covid sign on ct.
Everytime i get a neck or abdominal ct, i get a peek at their lungs. I show the doc, which prompts a covid test. Some of these people dont even have symptoms, but their lungs look like crap.
I feel like everybody has it now. I call the hospital a covid cesspool. And now we are running out of ppe again. I have gone back and forth on my opinions in the past on social distancing and opening things back up. Since we have opened up...its exponentially worse just in a few weeks.
Stay home.