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so mass testing would put front line medical workers at risk of serious illness or death.
I wonder if this is true. I suspect not, given that S Korea seems to be currently held as having the best response to the virus. I imagine that mass testing would absolutely allow you to deploy your medical staff much more appropriately in better targeted ways, which may actually contribute to their safety.
But obviously this is just conjecture - I can see there's a case either way.
christianSpaceman-
All the evidence so far says the more you're exposed to it, the more risk you're at. Hence big events not actually being that risky, despite all the panicking on here and elsewhere. You are much more likely to catch it from family and close friends, unless you're a medical professional.
I agree it's possible to test people and not be at risk with the right PPE but we've had posts here about NHS workers wearing badly fitting dust masks so I can't see that going well. Either way it would mean critical PPE and resources being diverted to people who don't really need it. The estimate is that up to 80% of us will get the virus, it just doesn't seem viable or the best use of our (scarce) resources to me.
Fox
There just aren't the resources to test everyone. There never will be enough kits or enough medical staff, who are desperately needed for people who are properly going to be in need of medical help.
Also, we already know from China that the more you're exposed to the virus the more likely you are to get it, and the more serious your symptoms will be, so mass testing would put front line medical workers at risk of serious illness or death.
For most people coronavirus will be pretty mild and you can look after yourself at home.