3 ms·
We could have this disease under control by the time school starts by giving everyone (or at least everyone in highly affected areas) tests every day. This is
by pmoriarty 6y ago
We could have this disease under control by the time school starts by giving everyone (or at least everyone in highly affected areas) tests every day.
This is possible, practical, and affordable.
The technology for fast pregnancy-test style tests for COVID-19 exists right now, and they could cost as little as $1 per test.
The reason these tests aren't being used yet is because of the FDA's misguided requirements for extremely high sensitivity for COVID-19 tests. If these requirements could be relaxed to allow lower-sensitivity tests, then these tests could go out on the market... or, better yet, the government could take over and ensure everyone gets tested with these tests every day for $1 a test.
Even a more limited plan of testing just all schoolkids every day for $1 a test would be way better than what we've got now.
Details regarding these tests, the science behind them, and the plan outlined above can be found in the latest episode of This Week in Virology.[1]
Let's not miss another opportunity to stop this disease!
[1] - Starting at about 6'20" in to episode 640: https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-640/ https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-640/