I would really like to devote much, much less of my precious time to figuring out - from scraps of disjointed data published all over the got-dam-everywheres - what level of danger I am in from this completely UNMANAGED #Covid infection free-for-all.

This is a daily cost for me & sucks up time that could go towards others - my family & my society - or my wallet.

But I can't. Because I was infected in Feb 2020 & am still suffering daily from ongoing symptoms, I can't afford to catch it again.

Warning: A) this won't be in any order & B) you might find some of my ideas reasonable, & some surprising or unworkable

1st: Even if Biden Admin/your state isn't going to use ANY of the inherent police powers of the state to protect public health & safety with mandatory orders (e.g., occasional mask orders), they could AT LEAST be providing reliable & accurate information.

Eg: FDA certifies the antigen tests. FDA says you need 2-3 tests, 48h apart, to rule out infection
https://progressives.social/@chargrille/111133637579725290

A caring & diligent government would inform you of this, & clearly state the guidelines. Not suggest you can a) take one antigen test & disregard your risk to others, or b) not test at all.

Second, we need a federal agency (perhaps the new "Long Covid" group, since the CDC has apparently abandoned its statutory role) that funds #COVID monitoring & actually does it.

Federal govt should fund sampling at *every single* #Wastewater treatment plant in the US. There is no reason not to do this.

(If your local wastewater plant refuses to do so, they could lose all federal funds.)

These samples can be sent to a federal network of labs set up by NIH or CDC - or theoretically, the VA. Because we *need to* have PCR testing.

As @skua pointed out, the FDA-regulated guidelines for antigen testing, takes at least 48 hours, more likely 4 days. If you want to take #Paxlovid, that should be started before Day 5. PCR testing is important to public health.

So anyway, at these theoretical labs - distributed so as to cover every x # of persons in population - your local health care provider could send in your sample for PCR analysis, & this result would be reported by zip code to a central database, stripped of any identifying information.

This would allow us to pinpoint the emergence of new variants, & also growing outbreaks, so that we can keep ourselves informed & safe(r). Skip local health agencies, info straight to people.

These PCR labs will not only provide better & cheaper health care re COVID, but ANY condition detected/monitored by PCR testing. Also, provide local jobs.*

Our family is no longer able to get PCR testing via our healthcare provider because the (obviously premature) ending of the national emergency response this spring shut down the exception that allowed more labs to conduct that testing.

*Think this will be "expensive"? Remember that $100 million jet lost last week? https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/politics/f-35-missing-jet-what-matters/index.html

The Dept of Education should mandate proper ventilation at schools.

70% of #COVID infections are spread by kids, & 2-year-long JAMA study found that "in-person school...resulted in substantial spread."

"Once US schools reopened in fall 2020, children contributed more to inferred within-household transmission when they were in school, & less during summer & winter breaks, a pattern consistent for 2 consecutive school years."

Ventilation can cut school cases by 82%.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2805468