Follow the money.... 

I fly to MN to cover a small town ER for 4-5 days a couple times a month.  We had very few Covid "cases" through the summer, mostly asymptomatic or very minimally symptomatic.  Over the last couple months things heated up, and we started seeing some deaths in people over 65-70 with co-morbidities.  It wasn't overwhelming, but the larger referral hospitals started getting crunched for Covid beds.  The non-covid beds were tight because of a backlog in elective surgery, etc...

I have seen a lot of good results, though, mainly because we know a lot more about treatment and Dex has made a big difference.  The recent approval of monoclonal antibodies are promising and of course the vaccine (for those willing to take it) should help take some of the pressure off.  In my opinion, the way we have responded and made big advances is a credit to our profession.  The government's response in marshaling the capability if the private sector has been pretty impressive to me. 

No, just testing postive doesn't really generate money. The person has to be hospitalized before the government is paying out the big money everyone is talking about. Most people who test positive use tylenol, nyquil, mucinex, that kind of stuff at home to get better. That doesn't cost us anything. I have several friends sick with it now recovering at home (hopefully they can do so fully). The most important numbers to my mind are hospitalization rate and death rate like Bear said. When hospitals can't cope with patients, that's when more people die. So we have to be stricter when hospitalization rates are high.

And yes, locally there can be more concerns. My mom is an infectious disease nurse in Amarillo. They currently have 100 nurses out on quarantine in their area and their hospitals are at capacity. People needing ventilators now better hope they can get transport or they may die for lack of an ICU bed or ventilator. I think Lubbock is in very bad shape like this too. El Paso, Lubbock and Amarillo are the biggest hot spots in Texas right now. Amarillo just imposed more restrictions as a result. My parents had been going to 'socially distanced' church but they shut that back down again and in that environment with a hospitalization rate swinging from 15% to 28% that's probably good.

I think its sad that basic health things have become politicized. Science is science. And a life is a life. They are all valuable.

"Oh look! No social distancing at Trump rallies!"  
"Oh look!  Protests with hundreds of thousands of people and no social distancing!"  
"Oh look!  White House staffers test positive for Covid!  
"Oh look!  Biden team members test positive for Covid!"  
"Oh look!  Pence tests positive for Covid!"  
"Oh look!  Kamala's staff members test positive for Covid!"
"Oh look!  Trump has Covid....he's hospitalized.....the bastard has pizza delivered to supporters....he's back on the campaign trail!" 

That's what happened for the last 4 months....back and forth.  Didn't make a dam bit of difference.  Like watching a tennis match. 

Thank you for explaining.  I have been hearing more negative tests lately and that's why I was asking.  I just wished they had never paid for the positives in the first place.  I still dont understand the reason for the paying positives except to fudge numbers!

From a Health Department standpoint any money we have received is for very specific things. We received money to hire additional contact tracers or covid testers.  If covid did not exist we would have no need to hire these additional people. Even with the new staff we have hired we are still stretched extremely thin. I have very little time to do the job I was actually hired to do 3 years ago. 

For all of you who work in the world of health care, thank you for what you do and your dedication.   

Years ago I thought I could be a medical transcriptionist, two classes later I knew just understanding the terminology was too tough for me.  I admire you all.

Thank you for saying that. It's nice to hear when people appreciate what we do. It seems like I've got a lot more criticism than thanks lately. 

Yes,THANK YOU HEALTHCARE WORKERS,we currently have a family member on a vent with covid,and pnemonia,and isnt looking good,cant visit:(also my friend and her young son have it,they are doing ok at home.WE APPRECIATE YOU,alot of healthcare workers here are getting covid this time around:(STAY SAFE.

I agree, thank you to our health care workers! I cannot imagine being in the medical field right now. 

What bothers me is how politicized this virus has become. I just don't think the economy or peoples mental health can take another shut down. 

In my opinion most governors could take a few notes from South Dakota's Kristi Noem 

Thanks Bear! I always enjoy reading your responses. 

Just found out about an hour ago my other neighbor hospitalized for COVID-19 passed away. 

As much as some want to minimize the situation, this pandemic is is very, very real and raging.  It is easy to point out that most do not get really ill and recover with out incident.  I realize that many those who have died had underlying health issues, but the fact remains that they would have still been alive if they had not caught covid.  I doubt that the loved ones of nearly a quarter million fellow Americans find any solicev in any of those facts.  

A friend of 40+ years passed away last week.  She spent almost 2mos in the hospital. She was on a vent and ecmo bypass.  4 weeks in she rallied and actually came off the vent.  She seemed to be making progress and  then suddenly started to go down hill.  She declined to go back on the vent and passed within 24 hours.   Her husband who had many health issues only had a few days of cold type symptoms and recovered completely.  You just never know who will be effected how.  

I am so sorry,we are about in the same situation,and having an AWFUL time getting info on our family member.She is 59,the hospital will only talk to the ONE person listed,they will not talk to other family.Another family member was diagnosed with terminal cancer last month,sent home with hospice,5 of the caretakers now have covid,and 4 family members.

for every anecdote like that there is the other side like mine. 

Everyone in my immediate family has had it and brushed it off like the common cold. 

My 80ish year old parents now have it and my dad was mowing and my mom was working her garden this afternoon. 

It's real, it's also no more serious than the flu. 

fact

In my world 250,000 dead folks is not anecdotal.  Nor is the flu mortality rate comparable to this pandemic.  Remind me when the flu has ever put ICU beds at or near capacity all over this country.

Both my Father in law and Mother in Law had it a few months ago at the same time, both are in their late 80's and bounching back from the Covid, My Mother In Law still claims they just had the Flu.. And my Father In Law has had more then a few heart by- passes so it got him a little more then MIL, but both are doing good and never spended one night in the Hospital.. Just saw them this pass Monday at my sister in laws funeral and they looked a little tired, but they have always stayed busy and in shape, so I think that helped.. MIL has always been a yard person and always works in her garden so I really think them being in good shape helped kick this virus. 

I can't speak for 1D, but you used an anecdote and he countered with his anecdote. He didn't say 250,000 deaths was anecdotal. In his family's experience, Covid was like having the flu.  Covid19 is more contagious than Swine flu, but Swine Flu was actually deadlier than Covid19 in kids.  Over 80% of the deaths from H1N1 were under 65, whereas over 80% of Covid19 deaths were in people over 65.  All I can say is if the vaccine is as effective as they claim, any credit will eventually be given to "Operation Warp Speed".  We've never ever even come close to developing an effective vaccine to a NOVEL ("new") virus this quickly at any time in history. 

250k deaths is tragic

so is the fact that it's pretty common knowledge that of those 250k were comorbitie deaths. 

it is both itellectually disengenous and naive not to see the Rice Rabies as a political tool as much as a virus. 

Note: my spelling sucks and I don't have my glasses and am typing on my phone. So I don't care 

Again, reality, this virus started in sanctuary cities and El Paso is a super hot spot.  Figure it out.

Our company's accountant is 73 and diabetic.  He has Covid and is sick and a bit miserable but never required hospitalization and is working his way through it.  He will be fine.  

Joe's miracle cure will be masks and shutting down businesses all over the country, then bankrupting the country by putting a couple trillion out there like welfare benefits.  If you let me work, I don't need it but if you shut down my business I sure as heck will.