coronavirus testing

Policast: Schools will remain closed; a new coronavirus testing plan

Schools will remain closed; a new coronavirus testing plan




coronavirus testing

New York to expand coronavirus testing for minority and low-income communities

As states across the nation continue to reopen despite coronavirus cases climbing, the impact on minority and low-income groups become more apparent.




coronavirus testing

Mobile coronavirus testing unit in operation outside Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium

The unit is part of a project led by the Department of Health and Social Care and is one of many to have been deployed across the country in response to local demands.




coronavirus testing

Mobile coronavirus testing unit in operation outside Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium

The unit is part of a project led by the Department of Health and Social Care and is one of many to have been deployed across the country in response to local demands.




coronavirus testing

U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How's Your State Doing?

; Credit: Alyson Hurt/NPR

Rob Stein, Carmel Wroth, and Alyson Hurt | NPR

To safely phase out social distancing measures, the U.S. needs more diagnostic testing for the coronavirus, experts say. But how much more?

The Trump administration said on April 27 the U.S. will soon have enough capacity to conduct double the current amount of testing for active infections. The country has done nearly 248,000 tests daily on average in the last seven days, according to the nonprofit Covid Tracking Project. Doubling that would mean doing around 496,000 a day.

Will that be enough? What benchmark should states try to hit?

One prominent research group, Harvard's Global Health Institute, proposes that the U.S. should be doing more than 900,000 tests per day as a country. This projection, released Thursday, is a big jump from its earlier projection of testing need, which was between 500,000 and 600,000 daily.

Harvard's testing estimate increased, says Ashish Jha, director of the Global Health Institute, because the latest modeling shows that the outbreak in the U.S. is worse than projected earlier.

"Just in the last few weeks, all of the models have converged on many more people getting infected and many more people [dying]," he says.

But each state's specific need for testing varies depending on the size of its outbreak, explains Jha. The bigger the outbreak, the more testing is needed.

Thursday Jha's group at Harvard published a simulation that estimates the amount of testing needed in each state by May 15. In the graphic below, we compare these estimates with the average numbers of daily tests states are currently doing. (Jump to graphic)

Two ways to assess whether testing is adequate

To make their state-by-state estimates, the Harvard Global Health Institute group started from a model of future case counts. They calculated how much testing would be needed for a state to test all infected people and any close contacts they may have exposed the virus. (The simulation estimates testing 10 contacts on average.)

"Testing is outbreak control 101, because what testing lets you do is figure out who's infected and who's not," Jha says. "And that lets you separate out the infected people from the non infected people and bring the disease under control."

This approach is how communities can prevent outbreaks from flaring up. First, test all symptomatic people, then reach out to their close contacts and test them, and finally ask those who are infected or exposed to isolate themselves.

Our chart also shows another testing benchmark for each state: the ratio of tests conducted that come back positive. Communities that see around 10% or fewer positives among their test results are probably testing enough, the World Health Organization advises. If the rate is higher, they're likely missing a lot of active infections.

What is apparent from the data we present below is that many states are far from both the Harvard estimates and the 10% positive benchmark.

Just nine states are near or have exceeded the testing minimums estimated by Harvard; they are mostly larger, less populous states: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Several states with large outbreaks — New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut among others — are very far from the minimum testing target. Some states that are already relaxing their social-distancing restrictions, such as Georgia, Texas and Colorado, are far from the target too.

Jha offers several caveats about his group's estimates.

Estimates are directional not literal

Researchers at the Global Health Initiative at Harvard considered three different models of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak as a starting point for their testing estimates. They found that while there was significant variation in the projections of outbreak sizes, all the models tend to point in the same direction, i.e. if one model showed that a state needed significantly more testing, the others generally did too.

The model they used to create these estimates is the Youyang Gu COVID-19 Forecasts, which they say has tracked closely with what's actually happened on the ground. Still the researchers caution, these numbers are not meant to be taken literally but as a guide.

If social distancing is relaxed, testing needs may grow

The Harvard testing estimates are built on a model that assumes that states continue social distancing through May 15. And about half of states have already started lifting some of those.

Jha says, that without the right measures in place to contain spread, easing up could quickly lead to new cases.

"The moment you relax, the number of cases will start climbing. And therefore, the number of tests you need to keep your society, your state from having large outbreaks will also start climbing," warns Jha.

Testing alone is not enough

A community can't base the decision that it's safe to open up on testing data alone. States should also see a consistent decline in the number of cases, of two weeks at least, according to White House guidance. If their cases are instead increasing, they should assume the number of tests they need will increase too.

And Jha warns, testing is step one, but it won't contain an outbreak by itself. It needs to be part of "a much broader set of strategies and plans the states need to have in place" when they begin to reopen.

In fact, his group's model is built on the assumption that states are doing contact tracing and have plans to support isolation for infected or exposed people.

"I don't want anybody to just look at the number and say, we meet it and we're good to go," he says. "What this really is, is testing capacity in the context of having a really effective workforce of contact tracers."

The targets are floors not goals

States that have reached the estimated target should think of that as a starting point.

"We've always built these as the floor, the bare minimum," Jha says. More testing would be even better, allowing states to more rapidly tamp down case surges.

In fact, other experts have proposed the U.S. do even more testing. Paul Romer, a professor of economics at New York University proposed in a recent white paper that if the U.S. tested every resident, every two weeks, isolating those who test positive, it could stop the pandemic in its tracks.

Jha warns that without sufficient testing, and the infrastructure in place to trace and isolate contacts, there's a real risk that states — even those with few cases now — will see new large outbreaks. "I think what people have to remember is that the virus isn't gone. The disease isn't gone. And it's going to be with us for a while," he says.

Daniel Wood contributed to this report.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing: Over 15 lakhs tested till now for COVID-19, informs Harsh Vardhan

Coronavirus testing: Over 15 lakhs tested till now for COVID-19, informs Harsh Vardhan





coronavirus testing

‘We have to test more people’: Wisconsin expands coronavirus testing for African American, Latino and tribal communities (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘We have to test more people’: Wisconsin expands coronavirus testing for African American, Latino and tribal communities. “All African Americans, Latinos and tribal community members in Wisconsin will have access to free COVID-19 testing under a plan announced Thursday by Gov. Tony Evers. Evers’ plan is an effort to combat the staggering … Continue reading ‘We have to test more people’: Wisconsin expands coronavirus testing for African American, Latino and tribal communities (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)




coronavirus testing

More coronavirus testing results, this time from Los Angeles

In comments, Joshua Ellinger points to this news article headlined, “Hundreds of thousands in L.A. County may have been infected with coronavirus, study finds,” reporting: The initial results from the first large-scale study tracking the spread of the coronavirus in [Los Angeles] county found that 2.8% to 5.6% of adults have antibodies to the virus […]





coronavirus testing

How South Korea scaled coronavirus testing while the U.S. fell dangerously behind

By learning from a MERS outbreak in 2015, South Korea was prepared and acted swiftly to ramp up testing when the new coronavirus appeared there. Meanwhile, the U.S., plagued by delay and dysfunction, wasted its advantage. By Stephen Engelberg, Lisa Song and Lydia DePillis ProPublica…



  • News/Nation & World

coronavirus testing

Homeless Isolation Shelter In Colorado Springs Expects Coronavirus Testing Uptick

The isolation shelter at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium for people experiencing homelessness and COVID-19 symptoms has seen around 30 people since opening April 5. At this time, it's unknown if they were positive for the new coronavirus. Jennifer Mariano, director of homeless programs with Community Health Partnership , said the location recently received COVID-19 testing supplies, and will begin testing people this week.




coronavirus testing

Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer says widespread coronavirus testing needed before MLS can return


Hanauer, whose club won the 2019 MLS Cup, said all ideas are being considered by MLS owners in order to resume play.




coronavirus testing

For sports, coronavirus testing remains a major hurdle


MIAMI (AP) — Politicians, players and owners are trying to figure out a way to get baseball, basketball and hockey going again, not only for economic reasons but as a welcome diversion for a social distancing nation facing uncertain times. But to do so would require commandeering thousands of test kits each week for millionaire […]




coronavirus testing

For sports, coronavirus testing remains a major hurdle


MIAMI (AP) — Politicians, players and owners are trying to figure out a way to get baseball, basketball and hockey going again, not only for economic reasons but as a welcome diversion for a social distancing nation facing uncertain times. But to do so would require commandeering thousands of test kits each week for millionaire […]




coronavirus testing

Strategy To Expand Coronavirus Testing In US Unveiled

President Donald Trump on Monday announced a strategy to expand coronavirus testing facilities in the United States, which the White House described as a decisive step to ensure States have the testing system required to reopen the nation. The Trump Administration released its blueprint for State testing plans and rapid response programs as a follow up of the "Opening Up America Again" guidelines




coronavirus testing

Police to target Tasmania's north-west as drive-through coronavirus testing centre opens

A coronavirus outbreak at Burnie's hospital has prompted a plea for Tasmania's north-west residents to do the right thing over the Easter break, as a drive-through testing station opens in Hobart.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing enters 'blitz mode' in Ballarat and Warrnambool

New COVID-19 testing clinics have opened in Warrnambool and Ballarat as the Victorian Government continues its push to surpass 200,000 tests by May 11.




coronavirus testing

U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How's Your State Doing?

By Rob Stein, Carmel Wroth, Alyson Hurt

To safely phase out social distancing measures, the U.S. needs more diagnostic testing for the coronavirus, experts say. But how much more?

The Trump administration said on April 27 that the U.S. will soon have enough capacity to conduct double the current amount of testing for active infections. The country has done nearly 248,000 tests daily on average in the past seven days, according to the nonprofit COVID Tracking Project. Doubling that would mean doing about 496,000 a day.

Will that be enough? What benchmark should states try to hit?

One prominent research group, Harvard's Global Health Institute, proposes that the U.S. should be doing more than 900,000 tests per day as a country. This projection, released Thursday, is a big jump from its earlier projection of testing need, which had been between 500,000 and 600,000 daily.

Harvard's testing estimate increased, says Ashish Jha, director of the Global Health Institute, because the latest modeling shows that the outbreak in the United States is worse than projected earlier.

"Just in the last few weeks, all of the models have converged on many more people getting infected and many more people [dying]," he says.

But each state's specific need for testing varies depending on the size of its outbreak, explains Jha. The bigger the outbreak, the more testing is needed.

On Thursday, Jha's group at Harvard published a simulation that estimates the amount of testing needed in each state by May 15. In the graphic below, we compare these estimates with the average numbers of daily tests states are currently doing.

Two ways to assess whether testing is adequate

To make their state-by-state estimates, the Harvard Global Health Institute group started from a model of future case counts. It calculated how much testing would be needed for a state to test all infected people and any close contacts they may have exposed to the virus. (The simulation estimates testing 10 contacts on average.)

"Testing is outbreak control 101, because what testing lets you do is figure out who's infected and who's not," Jha says. "And that lets you separate out the infected people from the noninfected people and bring the disease under control."

This approach is how communities can prevent outbreaks from flaring up. First, test all symptomatic people, then reach out to their close contacts and test them, and finally ask those who are infected or exposed to isolate themselves.

Our chart also shows another testing benchmark for each state: the ratio of tests conducted that come back positive. Communities that see about 10% or fewer positives among their test results are probably testing enough, the World Health Organization advises. If the rate is higher, they're likely missing a lot of active infections.

What is apparent from the data we present below is that many states are far from both the Harvard estimates and the 10% positive benchmark.

Just nine states are near or have exceeded the testing minimums estimated by Harvard; they are mostly larger, less populous states: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Several states with large outbreaks — New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, among others — are very far from the minimum testing target. Some states that are already relaxing their social distancing restrictions, such as Georgia, Texas and Colorado, are far from the target too.

Jha offers several caveats about his group's estimates.

Estimates are directional, not literal

Researchers at the Global Health Initiative at Harvard considered three different models of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak as a starting point for their testing estimates. They found that while there was significant variation in the projections of outbreak sizes, all of the models tend to point in the same direction, i.e., if one model showed that a state needed significantly more testing, the others generally did too.

The model they used to create these estimates is the Youyang Gu COVID-19 Forecasts, which they say has tracked closely with what's actually happened on the ground. Still, the researchers caution, these numbers are not meant to be taken literally but as a guide.

Can't see this visual? Click here.

If social distancing is relaxed, testing needs may grow

The Harvard testing estimates are built on a model that assumes that states continue social distancing through May 15. And about half of states have already started lifting some of those.

Jha says that without the right measures in place to contain spread, easing up could quickly lead to new cases.

"The moment you relax, the number of cases will start climbing. And therefore, the number of tests you need to keep your society, your state from having large outbreaks will also start climbing," warns Jha.

Testing alone is not enough

A community can't base the decision that it's safe to open up on testing data alone. States should also see a consistent decline in the number of cases, of two weeks at least, according to White House guidance. If their cases are instead increasing, they should assume the number of tests they need will increase too.

And, Jha warns, testing is step one, but it won't contain an outbreak by itself. It needs to be part of "a much broader set of strategies and plans the states need to have in place" when they begin to reopen.

In fact, his group's model is built on the assumption that states are doing contact tracing and have plans to support isolation for infected or exposed people.

"I don't want anybody to just look at the number and say, we meet it and we're good to go," he says. "What this really is, is testing capacity in the context of having a really effective workforce of contact tracers."

The targets are floors, not goals

States that have reached the estimated target should think of that as a starting point.

"We've always built these as the floor, the bare minimum," Jha says. More testing would be even better, allowing states to more rapidly tamp down case surges.

In fact, other experts have proposed that the U.S. do even more testing. Paul Romer, a professor of economics at New York University, proposed in a recent white paper that if the U.S. tested every resident, every two weeks, isolating those who test positive, it could stop the pandemic in its tracks.

Jha warns that without sufficient testing, and the infrastructure in place to trace and isolate contacts, there's a real risk that states — even those with few cases now — will see new large outbreaks. "I think what people have to remember is that the virus isn't gone. The disease isn't gone. And it's going to be with us for a while," he says.

Can't see this visual? Click here.

Daniel Wood contributed to this report.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




coronavirus testing

Trump’s Misleading Ad on Coronavirus Testing

A new Trump campaign ad claims that President Donald Trump took "fast action" in regard to testing for the novel coronavirus. While “fast action” is subjective, pandemic experts say the U.S. did not move quickly to set up an adequate system and in fact lagged behind other countries.

The post Trump’s Misleading Ad on Coronavirus Testing appeared first on FactCheck.org.




coronavirus testing

Editorial: This California town has the coronavirus testing program we all need. We should be thankful they do

Don't hate Bolinas, California for having the means to undertake a mass testing program. Thank them for doing the rest of us a favor.




coronavirus testing

Editorial: Widespread coronavirus testing won't help end the pandemic if it's inaccurate

Some antibody tests for COVID-19 have unacceptably high rates of false positives.




coronavirus testing

Carmel mayor's promotion of coronavirus testing lab Aria Diagnostics raises concerns

Some ethics experts say Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard's push for coronavirus testing at Indianapolis lab Aria Diagnostics raises flags.

       




coronavirus testing

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the NBA aren't on same page with coronavirus testing

Mavs owner Mark Cuban isn't comfortable opening team facility for practice because they can't test all players and staff for coronavirus.

       




coronavirus testing

How States, Assessment Companies Can Work Together Amid Coronavirus Testing Cancellations

Scott Marion, who consults states on testing, talks about why it's important for vendors and public officials to work cooperatively in renegotiating contracts amid assessment cancellations caused by COVID-19.

The post How States, Assessment Companies Can Work Together Amid Coronavirus Testing Cancellations appeared first on Market Brief.




coronavirus testing

UK Government misses coronavirus testing target for sixth day in a row

The Government has defended missing its key 100,000 target for coronavirus tests for the sixth day in a row, highlighting “daily fluctuations” in availability.




coronavirus testing

Government’s approach to coronavirus testing to be examined by Scottish Parliament Committee

The Scottish Government’s testing strategy during the coronavirus pandemic is to be investigated by the Health and Sport Committee.




coronavirus testing

Sussex County: Coronavirus testing sites announced April 29-May 4, 2020

Looking for coronavirus testing locations in Sussex County? See below for dates, times, and locations starting today, April 29 thru May 4, 2020.  Community Testing Site hosted by Beebe Healthcare in the parking lot between JD Shuckers and the Veteran’s Administration off of Rt. 404 in Georgetown: Wednesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Community Testing Site […]




coronavirus testing

National Coronavirus Testing Strategy Announced as States Reopen

Title: National Coronavirus Testing Strategy Announced as States Reopen
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM




coronavirus testing

How does coronavirus testing work and will we have a home test soon?

Efforts to scale up testing for the covid-19 coronavirus have been slow in some countries, and some tests are more accurate than others, which could make it harder to slow the spread




coronavirus testing

All NHS workers to get coronavirus testing if needed, Matt Hancock vows

Follow our live coronavirus updates HERE Coronavirus: the symptoms




coronavirus testing

Downing Street defends coronavirus testing of Michael Gove's daughter, saying he has 'central role' in fight against Covid-19

Follow our live coronavirus updates HERE Coronavirus: The symptoms




coronavirus testing

Government's coronavirus testing tsar 'confident' that 100,000 daily target will be met on Thursday

The Government's testing tsar has said he is "confident" that the 100,000 daily target for coronavirus tests will be met on Thursday.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing in UK to be massively ramped up to include care home staff and residents and over-65s

Coronavirus testing will be expanded to all care home residents and staff, regardless of whether they have Covid-19 symptoms, and all people aged 65 and over with symptoms and their households, Matt Hancock has said.




coronavirus testing

Donald Trump says 1m cases figure is due to coronavirus testing being 'sooo much better' in US than rest of world

Donald Trump has said the high number of Covid-19 cases in the United States is due to the country's testing being "sooo much better' than anywhere else in the world.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing figures drop to less than 80,000 after Government hit its 100,000 a day target by end of April

The number of daily coronavirus tests being carried has fallen to below 80,000 despite the Government saying that it hit the 100,000 a day target by the end of April.




coronavirus testing

Government misses coronavirus testing target for sixth day running

The Government has missed its testing target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April for the sixth day running.




coronavirus testing

John Oliver on coronavirus testing in the US: 'What the f*** happened?'

TV host went into a detailed analysis of the low testing rate in the US amid the coronavirus pandemic




coronavirus testing

Tottenham install coronavirus testing centre for NHS staff and families at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham have installed a drive-through Covid-19 testing centre at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to help the NHS.




coronavirus testing

Tottenham release first footage of NHS coronavirus testing centre at repurposed stadium

Tottenham have granted the NHS access to their stadium to carry out coronavirus testing.




coronavirus testing

Brighton's Amex Stadium converted into coronavirus testing centre

Brighton's Amex Stadium has been converted into a drive-in coronavirus testing centre for key workers during the pandemic.




coronavirus testing

Clubs fear coronavirus testing poses significant problem as Premier League push for restart

Top clubs are concerned that coronavirus testing is the biggest obstacle to the return of professional football.




coronavirus testing

Barcelona squad arrive for coronavirus testing ahead of LaLiga season restart

Barcelona's players were back at the club's training ground on Wednesday morning for coronavirus tests ahead of LaLiga's planned return next month.




coronavirus testing

Barcelona announce training return on Friday after coronavirus testing

Barcelona will return to training on Friday, the Catalan club have announced.




coronavirus testing

Real Madrid announce training return on Monday after coronavirus testing

Real Madrid have announced that they will return to training on Monday after carrying out coronavirus tests on their first-team squad this week.




coronavirus testing

'Not nearly enough' coronavirus testing to safely reopen, Senate health chair says

Millions more coronavirus tests will be needed to safely reopen the country, the chairman of the Senate HELP Committee said at a hearing Thursday.




coronavirus testing

'Almost criminal' coronavirus testing isn't available for everyone, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown says

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for "more than 200,000" coronavirus tests to be carried out.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus Testing Delays in the United States: What Happened?

Testing for the novel coronavirus in the United States has not kept pace with the enormous demand despite national efforts to ramp up capacity.




coronavirus testing

'A wild ride': Expanding coronavirus testing takes center stage with reopening

Until millions of Americans can be tested weekly for coronavirus, states will walk blindly into restarts. But NIH director has a plan to ramp up.




coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing has come to skid row. But what happens when infected patients disappear?

Even as Mayor Eric Garcetti has extended testing to everyone in L.A. County, doing the same for homeless people has proved to be far more challenging.




coronavirus testing

Kroger CEO: We are expanding coronavirus testing at our locations

Kroger chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen joins "Squawk on the Street" to discuss the ramp up in Covid-19 testing at its stores, and which products are selling the fastest.