34 The Worst That Could Happen #8

There is something important to know. There are very few tests that are infallible.

Very often there is high threshold where getting a false negative is unlikely.

Very often there is low threshold where getting a false positive is unlikely.

Some test techniques have a quick methodology. Testing the buoyancy of sea water with a floating hydrometer is a decent tool to predict how much salt is in that sample.

A test the works for pure water, brackish water, sea water and geologic brine. That is still just a correlation and not something that specifies exactly the amount of dissolved NaCl in a sample.

Earlier in this series I proposed that agile techniques might be helpful in management of a worldwide contagion.

I was not expecting personal distance to create economic hardship outside of specific industries (air travel, recreational ship travel, theatres and concerts).

Government want to act of good management of restrictions to prevent an expanding crisis. They need solid data. Reliable tests to make that happen.

I personally favor exposing all bad news. Deaths. Suspect test results. Publication of economic impacts.

I favor those things more than an "everybody keep smiling" approach. I do realize that many people would not remain calm and rational is some situations.

I do not know where the right balance would be found.

Without good test results, finding the right balance is just hard to do.