Change testing strategy

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The number of COVID-19 cases has generally been declining for the past month. We have peaked, but that does not indicate that we can stop testing. Everywhere, experts continue to emphasize the need for more testing — but what many of them miss is where we need to concentrate our testing.

Currently, testing is mainly focused in hospitals for those who are showing strong symptoms. These patients are often debilitated, but they are already isolated from the public. Oftentimes, doctors are almost certain that these patients have contracted the virus and just use the tests to confirm their suspicions.

Providing tests in hospitals and health care facilities is a good start. However, we must also test all contacts of those who have already tested positive. These individuals have a higher likelihood of having the illness but many of them may be asymptomatic, so they unknowingly spread the disease.

In a perfect world, we would be able to test everyone, isolate all of the infected and protect the vulnerable. But given the constraints of current testing, we must now transition into testing contacts of those who are already ill. This novel method may give us some hope in stemming the spread of COVID-19.

WESLEY PENG

Scottsdale, Ariz.