Facts Versus Fears

 

Yesterday I got a release from Fairfield Memorial Hospital. It was titled “Facts Versus Fears” concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. I thought it was very interesting.

In very few words, FMH said two important things.

1. The calculated positivity rate is the number of positive tests divided by the number of tests performed. Not the number of people in the county. So if a hundred tests are given and eight are positive, you have an 8-percent positivity rate.

2. The hospital is not making money off the pandemic from the government. In fact, FMH gets reimbursed $50 per test. Each test kit costs $137. That dog doesn’t hunt.

I would go further. The hospital has taken its lumps because of COVID, actually shutting down elective surgeries for a period of time.

The administration of Fairfield Memorial has served the community admirably during this crisis. The medical staff are heroes for their devotion to their patients and their courage.

And while I’m at it, I think Clark Griffith, Jeff Jake, Mark Elliott and the whole staff at the Wayne County Health Department have been outstanding in their jobs. I can’t fault them. I won’t. They do not deserve ridicule. They deserve our thanks for doing a very difficult job in a professional way.

I don’t think there is any value in arguing whether or not you believe COVID is a threat to you and your loved ones. It is the hospital and the health department’s job to inform and serve.

I think they are doing both quite well.