I'm trying to agree or disagree everywhere I can but it seems like either you're asking a different way or not trusting what I say has nothing to do with Trump himself.
COVID tests are primarily useful in identifying and treating people who have it. Not to identify people who don't have it. Why? Because the test results take at least 24 hours if not days to come back, but the result is only indicative of your status at the time you were tested. Also, it is a highly transmissible respiratory disease that can spread by simply being in proximity to people who are talking. Also, it is currently widespread in the US. Also, it is a new virus where we have no existing immunity - and therefore, now is a critical time to slow the spread. Also, we have already had months of "community spread" which means people are catching it without knowing how / from whom they got it. Also, many people are asymptomatic carriers of the virus who can transmit it - so you can catch it from someone who isn't sick, and you can also spread it even if you aren't sick.
...okay. But I did say that of course people can still have the virus (or any like virus) even though they tested negative (I did agree there). I also said I don't see things negatively. So if someone didn't test positive for something, the doctors and I usually say we're not presenting symptoms and don't have it so far we know. They can be negative and tell us "well, you could..." but hopefully, most doctors aren't as technical as you are.
What does all this add up to? It adds up to what the CDC says: a negative test does not mean you do not have the virus. If you test negative, you could still have it, and you should still wear a mask around others.
Yes. I agreed to this top part.
Of course, like I said, safe than sorry. People have different reasons they wear masks. The general consensus is if you don't have the virus, you can't spread it. Masks aren't necessary to those who don't have it.
Probabilities are always existing but that's not part of my point.
That's what the CDC says. You already acknowledged this. Right?
So far I remember, yes. I never disagreed with anything CDC says. I have opinions about it as I think we should all be skeptical about what we read and listen to, but that's just me. Some are more followers than others.
Actually, we do say that. The CDC says that. If you test negative for HIV, you could still have it. We can only say a person does not have HIV if they test negative twice: once before, and once after the "window period". And, during the "window period" the person must not have had any possible exposure to HIV: namely close sexual contact, or IV drug needle use.
Okay... You're being technical with these probabilities. Do you get my point?
COVID is a much more transmissible disease than HIV. It is not a sexually transmitted / blood borne disease. It is a contagious respiratory disease that can spread by people talking near each other - in fact, it may be airborne. So, because COVID is different from HIV, the implications of a negative test result are different.
Do you get my comparison?
Again: a negative COVID test does not mean you don't have it. A negative HIV test does not mean you don't have it.
You are confused on this issue. I suggest you listen to the CDC more, and Trump less.
I said that when you are negative, you are assumed not to have it.
I added no probabilities or anything like that. Coulds, maybes, etc all do exist but that's not my point.
What does trump have to do with this?
I only went off the link you gave me nothing more.
I don't think you heard me. I said I don't listen to trump. I was going off the link you gave me and that was it. Outside of that, I keep up with the CDC, WHO, and my Governor to see what's going on in our state.
Okay. So just to be crystal clear, you now acknowledge that the following statement is not correct. Right?
You have to refresh my memory while I try to find again the comment I answered this with. After three our four posts of answering your questions, I forget.
...please answer my question above. I have asked many times now and it's a simple, fair question, in my opinion. Thank you.
Every time I answer, you ask me something different or rephrase what you said. Maybe you disagree with my answer but that doesn't mean I haven't answered.
Yes but your mother cannot transmit cancer to other people (I am sorry to hear that by the way). So, it makes sense to be optimistic because that can help everyone cope mentally without endangering others.
COVID is not like that. If you want to assume you don't have it that's great for your mental health. But when you use a negative COVID test to justify not wearing a mask ... you are undermining CDC guidance, endangering others and not doing your part so we can fight the pandemic. It's irresponsible.
Do you get my point?
I NEVER said not to wear a mask nor justifying not to wear it.
Where did you get that from?
What post???
This is why Trump's reality-distortion field and inability to grasp or communicate complicated truths, is harmful in a crisis. Don't you agree this is very different than cancer?
Well, when I do look up trump's information to get your point, then I may agree with you. Right now I'm too lazy to figure out what you're referring to with trump other than the link you gave me.