Here's why Bill Gates has just slammed Covid-19 tests as "complete waste"
The Microsoft founder had hard words for the current COVID test process.
Effective coronavirus tests are at the heart of the mitigation of the propagation of Covid-19 and many reports have recently surfaceddelays of one or even two weeks for results. Now Microsoft FounderBill Gates Does he share his thoughts on COVID-19 Growth Test Delays. During an interview with CNBCSafe July 28, HomeAndrew Ross Sorkin asked what type of advice would give to the doors to the PresidentDonald Trump As the country sees a thrust of new CVIV-19 infections. The doors jumped by saying that thedelays many see to get test results The back makes tests "a complete waste".
"This thing you expect more than three days, sometimes seven days, to have a test, no one should pay a dollar for that. It's crazy," said Gates. "And so all these figures on how much we test, the majority is only complete waste," he added.
"You must get [the result] as soon as possible so that someone can change behavior, so they do not take on other people," said Gates. Former director of the CDCTom Frieden, MD, MPH, also addressedThis test problem Earlier this month, noting in a post on LinkedIn: "Tests taking more than 48 hours come back have little value. "
Why? Get timely results is a crucial component of efficiencyCONTRACT TRACING. Without being able to identify positive cases,Isolateand also requesting their narrow quarantine contacts, the virus will continue to spread.
The CDC explains theContact tracing process Like "Identify people with infectious disease (CAS) and people who have come into contact with (contacts) and work with them to interrupt the spread of diseases."
It means to ask people with COVID-19 ofIsolate for 10 days after the start of symptoms, according to new directives of the CDC, as well as to request their contacts toQuarantine at home For 14 days, the CDC advises. Of course, it only works if the test results are returned in a timely manner.
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The country's leading public health experts are also concerned about these delays.Anthony Fauci, MD, called the test result delays theThe biggest defect in the coronavirus test process in a recent appearance on CNN. "The time of the date of your test at the moment you get the result of recovery is sometimes measured in a few days," said Fauci on July 21 "" If that is the case, it a little bit the purpose of the tracing of the Contacts. "And if you think you could have the virus, checkThe most reliable sign you have COVID-19, research shows.