We have vaccines. But it doesn’t mean we stop caring to see where the virus is and adapt quickly if and when outbreaks take off.
Rapid accessible tests are not just tests. They represent real time accessible information on the virus in and around us.
time.com/6050846/covid-…
Rapid accessible tests are not just tests. They represent real time accessible information on the virus in and around us.
time.com/6050846/covid-…
The type of testing we will need in a well vaccinated population isn’t the frequent rapid testing I’ve called on for a year.
I don’t want us to remain in testing purgatory.
The landscape is changing and so too is the type of testing that will be useful...
2/
I don’t want us to remain in testing purgatory.
The landscape is changing and so too is the type of testing that will be useful...
2/
We will now move into a type of testing that is more targeted.
Less about suppressing massive outbreaks and more about having the tools to respond *effectively* if and when they arise.
Tools that allow us to not have to close anything down - but test to stay open.
3/
Less about suppressing massive outbreaks and more about having the tools to respond *effectively* if and when they arise.
Tools that allow us to not have to close anything down - but test to stay open.
3/
As fall and winter set in we will be kidding ourselves if we aren’t anticipating that cases will rear their heads again. It won’t be as bad as 2020 - not at all - but it’ll happen.
And those cases don’t need to cause massive disruptions - if we know who is not positive.
4/
And those cases don’t need to cause massive disruptions - if we know who is not positive.
4/
So we should have tests at the ready just in case.
As flu RSV and all the other viruses that were tucked away for a year+ set in and take off, we will need to know why our kids are sick.
Rather than guess and send kids home, schools can have some tests at the ready.
5/
As flu RSV and all the other viruses that were tucked away for a year+ set in and take off, we will need to know why our kids are sick.
Rather than guess and send kids home, schools can have some tests at the ready.
5/
Covid has changed things.
We no long have to fly blind w each RSV/FLU/Cold season. We can be empowered to know.
It’s shown us that a parent or a school nurse is in a position to run an infectious disease test on a child and make appropriate actions.
6/
We no long have to fly blind w each RSV/FLU/Cold season. We can be empowered to know.
It’s shown us that a parent or a school nurse is in a position to run an infectious disease test on a child and make appropriate actions.
6/
To think we just throw it all away bc we have vaccines is not wise and certainly won’t be wise when cases spill into nursing homes in the winter or schools worry about an outbreak and close down.
We can do so much better than take blunt hammers to these issues.
7/
We can do so much better than take blunt hammers to these issues.
7/
So while @CDCgov is now recommending not to test if vaccinated, I don’t think it’s that simple.
We don’t throw the tests away, we use them for specific purposes. We haven’t eradicated this virus & we won’t. For a long time, we are going to want to see it. Tests enable that
8/8
We don’t throw the tests away, we use them for specific purposes. We haven’t eradicated this virus & we won’t. For a long time, we are going to want to see it. Tests enable that
8/8
And this is just scratching the surface for vaccinated populations.
Much of the world isnt vaccinated. But we can suppress outbreaks b4 vaccines. I wrote about it last fall also in @TIME. We didn’t act on it in US but other nations still can.
time.com/5912705/covid-…
Much of the world isnt vaccinated. But we can suppress outbreaks b4 vaccines. I wrote about it last fall also in @TIME. We didn’t act on it in US but other nations still can.
time.com/5912705/covid-…
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