ITALIAN WOMAN TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AFTER 60 DAYS OF QUARANTINE AND SWABBING

[FM123]

*not my all caps, Newsweek's

A 23-year-old in Italy being treated for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus continues to test positive, despite two months of quarantine and continual swabs.

Bianca Dobroiu arrived at the Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic hospital, a public hospital part of the University of Bologna healthcare system, on February 28. She was admitted to the hospital with a fever above 105 degrees and was diagnosed with COVID-19.

"After four days she was fine, but the swabs are still positive," infectious disease specialist Luciano Attard told local media. "As far as we know, no one else in Italy has remained positive for so long. Usually, positivity results do not last for more than four weeks." Dobroiu "had not been subjected to any therapy," Attard said.

Dobroiu was discharged from the hospital on March 6 and returned home where she remained in quarantine under the country's nationwide lockdown.

"After 57 days, here is the new result," Dobroiu, who lives, works, and studies in Bologna, wrote on Facebook. "Well, it's not new because it has never changed. ... Nothing is changing at all and it scares me a little today."

Being asymptomatic, she still tests positive and told local media she was thankful the disease has not progressed. "But doctors have told me that I am still a carrier of the virus and contagious," she said.

As the European nation, one of the block members most devastated by the coronavirus, seeks to lift its lockdown on May 4, authorities are grappling with how to safely resume daily life for the country's 60 million people.

Last week, flower shops and clothing stores for young children reopened in an attempt to slowly restart the economy as it plunges into a deep recession.


https://www.newsweek.com/italian-woman-tests-positive-covid-19-after-60-days-quarantine-swabbing-1500202

[csziggy]

1. I'm starting to think we should just let the people who test positive out

And protect the people who test negative or who have not had C-19!

As more and more people are exposed, the percentage of people with positive (whether active virus or antibody positive) will increase. The people who have yet to be exposed will end up being fewer than those who have. Those without the disease will still need to protect themselves, but why should the rest continue to be restricted?

I'm not sure if this would work, but if the percentage originally estimated to catch Covid-19 is correct (40-70%) then it might be a plausible idea. Add in that those who don't want to take precautions no matter what their status is, can join the people who have had C-19 in going about their business.

I think as states open up despite the experts opinions, this will be how things will effectively work. People who have had it have no reason to shelter, many just don't care or believe they need to shelter, and those who are more cautious are self isolating will continue to do so until it is safe.

[BComplex]

2. If there are people like her who are carriers without symptoms, then this will go on & on.

Especially in the USA where the vast majority of Americans aren't getting tested. You can't lock up a carrier for life simply because the disease won't leave their systems.