This is a good article
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.htmlThere is a way we could identify more patients who have Covid pneumonia sooner and treat them more effectively — and it would not require waiting for a coronavirus test at a hospital or doctor’s office. It requires detecting silent hypoxia early through a common medical device that can be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies: a pulse oximeter.
Pulse oximetry is no more complicated than using a thermometer. These small devices turn on with one button and are placed on a fingertip. In a few seconds, two numbers are displayed: oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Pulse oximeters are extremely reliable in detecting oxygenation problems and elevated heart rates.
Pulse oximeters helped save the lives of two emergency physicians I know, alerting them early on to the need for treatment. When they noticed their oxygen levels declining, both went to the hospital and recovered (though one waited longer and required more treatment). Detection of hypoxia, early treatment and close monitoring apparently also worked for Boris Johnson, the British prime minister.
This reminds me of an article I read about Germany keeping fatalities low. They monitor people diagnosed with covid19.
The main thing, as the article points out, for many people it's too late once they get to the hospital..
some of this has to do with conflicting messages that were sent out that basically they said to stay home unless things got bad.
The problem is once they got mad things were too late.
I have said from the beginning that the problem with this type of thing is that everything starts off so aggressively the doctors take time to figure it out and by then so many people have died.
It's one aspect people don't really understand about social distancing. Besides for overwhelming hospitals, many who get sick early are the test studies.