Elon Musk may have COVID-19, and of course, he has a theory.
Elon Musk may have COVID-19, and of course, he has a theory
Elon Musk may have contracted COVID-19.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO shared the news on Twitter, saying he's got "symptoms of a typical cold." He also said he was tested four times in the same day, with two tests coming back negative, and two positive.
"Something extremely bogus is going on. Was tested for covid four times today. Two tests came back negative, two came back positive. Same machine, same test, same nurse. Rapid antigen test from BD," he tweeted.
Musk said he's "getting PCR results from separate labs," and that the results of those will take about 24 hours. "If it's happening to me, it's happening to others," he tweeted in response to another user asking whether this may be why we've seen "such a major spike" in cases.
Another user commented on revenues from tests being "not bogus & very consistent," to which Musk tweeted "Exactly."
Musk's expressed controversial views on the coronavirus pandemic before, and sometimes he's just been plain wrong — at one occasion, he said that kids are "essentially immune" to the virus, and on another, he predicted that there would be "close to zero new cases in US (...) by the end of April."
With his latest comments — especially the "extremely bogus" bit — he's once again stirring up conspiracy theories, one of which claims that the numbers of COVID-19 patients are exaggerated.
SEE ALSO: Verified 'Elon Musk' Twitter account celebrates election with crypto scam
In reality, the rapid antigen tests that Musk has apparently taken are known not to be entirely accurate, which is why they're often used for initial screening on whether a person has COVID-19 or not. For a much greater degree of certainty, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests must be used. There's nothing particularly unusual (let alone "extremely bogus") about someone getting conflicting results from antigen tests.
In any case, we wish Musk a speedy recovery. If he does, in fact, have it.
The uptick in hospitalization and death proves him wrong.
ReplyDeleteThinking one of these many pharm companies should have dedicated their resources to developing and accurate test
ReplyDeleteWell this isn't exactly a big news...does anyone knows someone who tried some periodic COVID test for working reasons or similiar? is a well known fact that COVID tests are monumentally inconsistent especially for asymptomatic people.
ReplyDeleteIn Italy there have been lots of documented cases of well known soccer players that in the span of few days tested repeatedly for covid with alternate mixed results positive-negative-positive etc.
I mean I know there are many crazy negationists and such...but I'm even more puzzled about the blind faith some other people are placing in science as if it was some sort of dogmatic religion.
Science is built on data and empirical trials, takes a lot of time to build such backgrounds. Do we have a testing method for covid? sure...is it robust and reliable...not really. How could it be if we still know so little even about the disease is meant to test... >.<
C'mon guys...turn on those little brains. Negationsts and believe-anything are the same thing, just on opposite sides.
False negatives are much worse than positive. PCR is standard method. The reason for false results can be multiple...from incompetence in regard to technical proficiency of the ppl doing the test, to type of tests taken. RT- PCR is rather exact thing, it searches for virus RNK...nothing Sci-fi there. If tests conducted by serum looking for antibodies, well there can be heaps of things giving different results. PCR is expensive so it depends what tests and types were conducted. People should not "blindly" believe, but they should be able to trust science. I do not like that science has been downplayed, mostly by populism and political agendas. That is very very dangerous thing and irresponsible behavior by those that look for personal interests mainly.
DeleteYou do understand the nature of data, yes? That there will always be errors, inconsistencies, mistakes and false results? Always?
DeleteConsider the percentages. Out of millions of tests, a handful are inconsistent. That does not cast doubt on the millions that aren't, or if it does, the doubt is minimal, given the small number of inconsistent test results.
Also, athelete's body's generally do wild things metabolically.
I wouldn't take that road of justifying the lack of reliability of a test because of the subject being a professional athlete. Since an athlete metabolysm, beside going through a certain low immune defense phase after intese workouts, is way more efficient by any aspect if compared to the one of the average guy.
DeleteInconsitencies are part of data, is a variable you live with it. Still that doesn't means that we have an efficient test for a illness that we still do not fully know and understand.
Plus as I stated "does anyone knows someone who tried some periodic COVID test"...because I do and if you do too, you already know that results fluctuate often from one day to another. I cited high profile soccer athletes in my country just because they are public persons, like Musk.
You do not understand nature, science, or data, Vecchi. Nature is a stochastic process not a deterministic machine. There are type I and type II errors in any test, false negatives and false positives. Are weather predictions ever wrong? Of course they are. Do you understand what variance is?! Do you think that every cotton swabbing picks up the exact same number of cells? What if the patient did a neti-pot rinse one day and not the next? What if the patient blew her nose before one test and not the next? What if COCVID-19 viral expression varies by the time of day (I guess unlikely) or the course of disease (I guess very likely). Do raindrops fall in perfect grid patterns in your perfect fantasy world that you are relying upon to make these comments? No they do not. You are not a scientist or not a very good one. Good scientists have open minds so that we may change our view when required to do so by reality.
DeleteHe is taking the rapid test which is known to be inaccurate. It is only approved for quick preliminary diagnosis of people who are showing symptoms. He said he only has mild cold symptoms which may not be “enough” if you will. Again, this is not an approved test for general testing. Since the margin of error here is much higher and the sensitivity of this test is much lower, the sample needs to be collected perfectly so if Musk is just popping these out himself the results aren’t entirely surprising.
DeleteThe PCR test is very accurate and it is what should be used when possible. This test happens is more expensive but for Musk... not an excuse.
Guy’s a “genius” and can’t even take the right test, and instead spreads conspiracy theories.
I'm afraid you do not understand the nature of science applied to real world. Your argument is purely academic which means is completely unrelated to real life application. Moreover we are talking about facing real life decision not involving world wide consequences, not just blathering in some academic circle for the sake of it.
DeleteYou say scientist should have open minds but man..your reasoning is so square that to be honest is one of the most stupid I have read since the beginning of pandemic. And trust me willingly or not I read many...
Besides I still do not see how all this should affect the low reliability of a rapid test or whatever you want to call it.
And that kind of tests are anyway the ones on most of the big data about COVID is build upon. Is not about Musk or some soccer player being a genius, is just about the low value of a standard test and all the data that has been collected so far.
Anyway thanks to demonstrate empirically what I was trying to say: science adept are the same thing that no-vax or negationst ones. Just blind extremists willing to accept anything as long as come from their divine source.
Oh maybe he can make a solar-powered face mask
ReplyDeleteIt's not a conspiracy theory if he's simply relating his experience to his followers for then to take their own interpretation of. Save yourself time from reading this bs article, he took 4 covid tests, all same type of test at same place with same doctor. 2 were positive, 2 were negative. He's saying that the results on the rapid response tests can possibly be inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't follow guidelines and don't wear a mask or social distance with good judgement.
ReplyDeleteThen yes you will get Caronavirus.
Bye bye Mashable
ReplyDeleteSeth Meyers Lol GIF
ReplyDeletehttps://gph.is/g/4bvYRbL
Elon can be so Noel sometimes
ReplyDeleteGet a blood drawn test
ReplyDeleteI wish he donates 125 masks.
ReplyDeleteMay you get heal in 4 days sir.. it's flushot!
ReplyDeleteTesla face masks coming soon
ReplyDeleteWell he makes a point, if the tests have a 50 percent chance to be wrong, then the test is useless.
ReplyDeleteHe’s using the wrong test. The test he’s using is only approved for very specific uses. He should have gotten a PCR test to start with.
DeleteThe possibility of having false positives (a different concept than an asymptomatic positive which is one that can actually infect the virus despite He having no symptoms) is a problem that can arise, for various reasons, both for external contamination and for the method of operation PCR, especially if the level of amplification cycles is high and positivity is found, for example, in only one of the coronavirus target genes (according WHO guidelines are used 3 different target genes and it is indicated as positive if at least 1 of these is positive). PCR is extremely accurate to detect the target genes, but the target genes could be detected "not only" due to nCoV-19; the complete genetic sequence is unique and specific of a specific virus, but single genes aren't, and unfortunately is not viable to test all genes presence.
ReplyDeletePCR is an important method certainly useful but not perfect, especially when we are seeking a new disease. So bashing it as Musk has done, is certainly inappropriate without any better alternative, and certainly false positives are better than false negatives in an epidemic control, but this doesn't mean all doubts must be called "conspiracy theory". Now the world seems divided in crazy conspirationists, with weird fantasy theories, and institutional dogmatists, that have the same approach with science and institutions of a jihadist with religion, with ignorance and toxic polarization in every debate.
Sources:
https://www.thelancet.com/.../PIIS2213-2600(20.../fulltext
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1808/rr-22
He got it from sticking his head up trumps rear end
ReplyDelete