Testing for a disease is usually done to guide therapy and identify the infective agent so that containment can be achieved. As I mentioned elsewhere, at this stage of the game, containment is no longer an option nor is it possible. The designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the WHO (World Health Organization) reinforces the fact that containment is no longer possible.

Testing makes absolute sense early in the course of any infection to facilitate identification and containment, but we are past that stage here in WA and in the US. Even in states where cases of infection are low there are likely too many asymptomatic carriers that once discovered will still be impossible to contain.

There remains however a few countries around the world, those with very few cases and regulated borders, that will better manage their infection rate going forward if testing is done early and rigorously. This article explains how testing can be effectively used to contain a virus in the early stages of emergence.

Testing, although available to special populations, e.g. hospital workers, cruise ships, etc, is not yet available for everyone at this time and may not be for the next few weeks. There are reports that test kits sent to local jurisdictions by the CDC are incomplete so they are not even able to be processed even when a sample is collected. Many samples after being collected are expiring before being processed as there are not enough of the reagents needed to run tests or even make up the test kits.

Testing of hospital workers is necessary and critical so that we do not have “Typhoid Marys”, more applicable, “Corona Carries”, floating around the hospital or care facilities inadvertently infecting everyone.

Testing on enclosed communities like cruise ships is also important so that isolation of those infected can be done in a timely manner, so that everyone else is not infected.

While it is understandable that everyone with respiratory symptoms have a desire to be tested, at this stage of the game, what is the value of being tested, and why further risk your life and health to be tested?

I would like you to consider the following before you insist on getting tested.

1. The WHO and CDC are emphasizing that everyone should be tested, which to me is contradictory on a few fronts as nothing but numbers/information will be garnered by testing:
   1. It is contradictory to identify social distancing as the most important step to take to help decrease spread of the virus while simultaneously encouraging everyone to be tested and facilitating this by offering free tests and drive through testing.
      1. If you have symptoms you should isolate to prevent infecting others and worsening your condition.
      2. Testing for a disease is primarily done to guide therapy:
         1. There is currently no therapy or treatment available for this virus.
         2. A positive nor a negative test result will not provide any additional recommendations that will either

• Frequent hand washing is important.
• It is recommended that you wash your hands multiple times during the day for about 20 seconds each time.
• Lather and scrub all surfaces of the front and back of the hands and in-between the fingers up to the wrist, then rinse with warm water. Dry with clean linen or paper towels.
• For inspiration: Personal fave – Iran!
• The Best
• Hand sanitizer with 60-70% alcohol can be used but should be augmented by hand washing.
• Find a list of agents meeting this criteria here

4. Avoid touching the face – especially the nose, mouth and eyes.
• If your hands are contaminated with the virus you can infect yourself by introducing it into your body via the mucous membranes present in the nose, mouth and eyes.
• i. Some reports indicate that the virus can survive on the hands for about 6 hours.
• It is likely that the virus can survive for about 3 days (72 hours) on a contaminated surface.
• Avoid contact with surfaces in public spaces including those made of steel surfaces, cardboard, glass in buses, trains, taxis, elevators, restaurants; on fences, hand rails, door knobs, pens, credit cards, money, cell phones, etc.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces your family, coworkers, etc, touch frequently during the day.
• Including door knobs, furniture, counters, phones, keyboards, faucets, hand rails, carts, handles, etc.
• Use a paper towel, disposable glove or even a plastic bag to open doors, press buttons, traverse stairs using the rails, etc, rather than your sleeve.
• If you are using the end of your shirt sleeve to open doors, rethink how you are using the inside of your elbows to cover your sneezes and coughs, as you are likely putting the sleeve end against the side of your face close to your eyes!

5. Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing and maintain your distance when speaking:
• Use the inside of your elbow to sneeze and cough into (see caution above)
• Use a tissue and wash your hands afterwards.
• Wear a mask if you tend to spray when you speak.

Other things that may be helpful:
1. Supplement with vitamin C and D which help support the immune system:
• Sunshine, if available, is the best source of vitamin D.
• Citrus fruit and bell peppers are good sources of vitamin C.
2. Keep well hydrated
• Consistently drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily.
• Helps to sooth the throat and rinse the mouth of viral particles if present.
• These particles will then go the stomach and potentially get destroyed by the stomach acid.
3. Exercise your lungs - Practice deep breathing exercises
• Since this virus severely affects the lungs and causes consolidation of the lung tissue, that makes it difficult to breathe
• New findings suggest that despite recovery, about 20-30% of lung function is lost
• Practice taking deep breaths and holding it for up to 30 seconds.
• If you are able to hold your breath without difficulty for 10-15 seconds you are unlikely to be having lung issues.
• Box breathing may also be helpful
• Start at 4 seconds and increase up to 10 seconds per leg if able:
• See how to do this here.
4. Get adequate rest
• Usually > 7 hours is recommended and will significantly aid recovery.
• Learn more here:
• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-sleep-affects-your-immunity
• https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-sleep-bolsters-your-immune-system
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5768894/
5. Eat Well and Just enough:
• I am sure that you have noticed that a natural response to illness, especially infectious ones, is that you no longer have an appetite and can only eat very little. This is a defense strategy that the body uses to decrease food available to the invading pathogen.
• Also, there is this well supported idea that promotes intermittent fasting to improve a variety of chronic disease health parameters.
• So eat less frequently or increase the duration between main meals.
• Consider two nutritionally as opposed to calorie dense meals per day
• Many of you will remember me saying that immunity starts in the gut, and it facilitated by the composition of your diet.
• Eating a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, garlic, onions, cilantro to obtain the most immune boosting nutrients.
• Limit meats and dairy products as they are thought to increase congestion and inflammation in the body, especially the lungs.
• Limit your intake of sugars since they provide ready fuel for the bugs and cause inflammation in the body overall.
• Garlic, although being parodied, is an excellent way to improve the gut bacteria that help to develop, manage and enhance you immune system.
• Take a clove a day and note the difference.
• Learn more here:
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/garlic-fights-colds-and-flu
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4417560/
6. Practice Better all around Hygiene:
• Preliminary reports are showing that viral particles are shed in feces during the early stages of the infection and persist after respiratory symptoms abate.
• Apparently, the first patient diagnosed in the United States with COVID-19 reported having 2 days of nausea and vomiting, with viral RNA detected in fecal and respiratory specimens
• Shower and wash you clothing items more frequently
7. Manage you Mental Health Stress and anxiety:
• In situations such as we are experiencing, it is absolutely normal to feel afraid and anxious and even panicked.
• This stress will diminish your immune system and at this time, you need your immune system functioning in top form.
• Here are some ideas to constructively use your energy:
• Practice the box breathing mentioned before to help calm your nerves and exercise your lungs.
• Engage in daily exercise.
• Mandatory movement even walking up and down your stairs or around the inside perimeter of the house will help.
• If you are working from home, use the time that you would have been commuting to get more rest daily.
• Make improvements to your diet – cook more nutritious meals.
• Do some meal prep:
• Stock up on food just in case there is a shortage later.
• You will have healthy meals on hand for when you go back out to work
• Increase family time – spend time laughing and playing.
• Maintain your sense of humor. This too shall past.
• Complete long neglected projects – garage cleanup
• Spend time developing ideas that will benefit your career when you get back to work.
• Read books. The library has an extensive online/e-book catalog.
• Watch movies and documentaries.
• Minimize news consumption
• In this case the less you know day to day is better.
• Use trusted sites – CDC, State health agencies, scientific websites.
• Investigate a new hobby
• Plan and plant a garden
• You will get some much needed, energy boosting Vitamin D
• Pride of ownership and creation and possibly food to share.