by meteor35
Here, in Colorado, we now have 12 confirmed cases. However, look at the conditions required to get a test.
Colorado state lab testing for COVID-19 prioritizes tests that meet the following criteria:
1. The patient has a fever OR signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, AND the patient has been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19, within 14 days of when symptoms started.
2. The patient has a fever OR signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (and other diagnoses such as influenza have been ruled out), AND the patient recently traveled to parts of the world where infection rates are high or community spread is occurring, within 14 days of when symptoms started.
3. Severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza)
I have seen other states with similar criteria. No wonder there are so few cases being reported. My guess would be there are 100 or more people, just in Colorado, that are probably infected and may be exhibiting mild symptoms. Of course, if just one of them, visit a nursing home sadly it will probably end up being another Kirkland.