COVID-19: Putting Public Health To The Test

December 16, 2021
2021, Past Events

The Continued Role for COVID Testing

As air and land borders have opened again and families are planning to get together in person this holiday season, we are going to discuss COVID-testing as a public health tool, and one that may be underutilized in this phase of the pandemic. Currently, in the U.S. COVID testing mostly occurs in persons showing symptoms (test-to-treat). Could we navigate in person meetings, the work place, family gatherings more safely if we were to (rapid) test everyone before getting together (test-to-stay)? Some countries around the world were using this path. And many countries are reconsidering their testing strategy again as COVID cases continue to rise, including in Germany where tests are now being offered for free again.

We discussed this with one of the most sought after German politicians and health experts as well as with leading and vocal scientists on this topic here in the U.S. What can the different COVID tests tell us, and what not? Where does the science and development of new tests stand? What is the threat from break-through infections and how could rapid testing add to the primary vaccination strategy? And how can we achieve broad acceptance in the population?