It's worse than you think-the US "almost certainly" is undercounting COVID-19 deaths

[uallas5]

If you have the symptoms why do you need a test? The treatment is the same either way. It's nice to know for sure but it's by no means necessary, and it won't change anything. I had all of the symptoms of covid, thought it was flu at the time, still don't know which it was. How would knowing have changed anything?

It's called "contract tracing" and it's something that hasn't been able to be done in the US in an real fashion due to the lack of testing. It's not just about YOU, it's about EVERYONE else, all those you came in contact with in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Are those people symptomatic? Do they have pre-existing conditions that warrant further evaluation. Are they health care workers or work in other fields that put them in contact with many other people irrespective of the stay-at-home orders? If they are symptomatic and test positive as well, then you start contact tracing them.

These are the vital questions that should be asked to truly flatten the curve in the best fashion possible.