1/ A hang-up on rapid tests that I've heard is that it'll be difficult for health depts to track results
Decentralized screening makes that difficult but stopping spread should be the overwhelming priority; monitoring indirectly helps stop spread but is a secondary consideration
2/ We shouldn't hold up something that can stop transmission because it will be harder to monitor or collect data on
The current counterfactual is that we're missing most infections anyway & neither stopping onward transmission from them or getting any data on them
3/ What's generally been missing from the rapid testing discussion are counterfactuals
Anyone can point out issues that arise if using them but that is meaningless without considering what is happening w/o them & thoughtfully strategizing on how to address potential downsides
4/ Right now, thousands of people who are infected go undetected & are functionally 'false-negative' anyway
The restrictions we continue to live with also treat all of us as if we were infectious & therefore akin to being 'false-positive'
cc: @K_G_Andersen @j_g_allen @sri_srikrishna @AbraarKaran @kj_seung @PaulSaxMD @ADPaltiel @michaelmina_lab @RWalensky
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.