Tuesday, 16 February 2021

Inaccurately Flows the Lateral Flow Test?

Nadhim Zahawi (the UK's Vaccines Minister) suggests that rapid Covid tests provide a 'key' to the reopening of sport and entertainment venues (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/16/rapid-covid-testing-key-to-reopening-venues-england-nadhim-zahawi-vaccines-minister). Zahawi seems more relaxed about the deficiencies of the 30 minute, lateral flow test, than many other folk. This test is crude and fails to detect a substantial number of Covid-19 infections. The idea of relying on test results (outside venues?), to clear people for access to sports arenas, nightclubs and theatres, seems ill-conceived. Social distancing is rare in such places. Even a few false negatives, mingling with the crowds, seems a recipe for a super-spreading event. We really need better tests.
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