Some interesting things I've found out while researching stuff. Apparently, people are only being tested for the virus if they show symptoms or have been in contact with those who have been tested positive. So far, Oregon has tested 11,426 people, with 548 testing positive for the virus, a positive rate of 4.7%. That means that of the tested people (those with symptoms or who have had contact), only 5% are testing positive; 95% of the people tested DO NOT HAVE the virus. This might mean a couple of things: the virus is less contagious than previously believed, or that "social distancing" is helping to slow the spread, which is the whole idea behind all of this quarantine stuff. Another possibility is that a LOT of people have the virus, but either have symptoms too mild to warrant testing, or are asymptomatic themselves. Either way, that is encouraging.
Another encouraging note is that a clinical study in France of 80 infected people, in which they were treated with the combination of hydroxychloroquine (the anti-malaria drug) and azithromycin (antibiotic), 78 of those in the trial recovered, 1 passed away (was too far gone at the beginning of the trial) and one remains in intensive care. This is a small sample, but the results are very promising, as it builds on another trial in which similar results were obtained. They're also experimenting with this same drug combo in New York.
We will beat this, and probably sooner than later.
