The major coronavirus test error of the CDC that can affect you
It turns out that coronavirus data in a number of states may be intermediate.
As states seek locking of locking almost nationally designed to end the coronavirus epidemic, the test data has become an essential component for these decisions. But a recent report ofAtlantic Details howThe disease control and prevention centers (CDC) made a critical error By combining separate test data, which the Government's Disease Control Agency has been admitted is true.
According toAtlantic Report and confirmed at the exit by CDC officials, the public health agency is confusedViral testsWhich determine if you are positive for coronavirus at the time of testing - andAntibody tests-What determine if its immune system has constructedAntibodies to fight Covid-19.
In the case of antibody tests, the results determine whether someone recovered from COVID-19 or had it and was asymptomatic. AsAtlantic Reports, it is similar to watching a "mirror" of his health. Antibody test data is a crucial metric, although the test has a higher incidence of false positive results.
While the results of the viral tests and antibodies are critical measures for medical experts and public health to take into account, they measurevery different things. But the CDC combines the two sets of data into a very significant metric called "Total Tests" which makes all of this rather meaning. The error of the CDC has the effect of compromising crucial metrics that government governors rely on the reopening of their states.
here's howAtlanticPut the:
This is not just a technical error. States have defined quantitative guidelines for reopening their economies based on these defective data points.
Several states, including Pennsylvania, the site of one of the largest epidemics of the country, as well as Texas, Georgia and Vermont, mix the data in the same way.
When learning this mixture,Harvard teacherAshish jha ExclaimedAtlantic,"Tell me this is a joke." He added, "How could the CDC make this mistake? It's a mess." By combining the two types of results, the CDC did both "non-interpretable," said Jha.
In April, the CDC presented guidelines for states to follow during the reopening, many of which were based on data trends, including test results. If the test data is not reliable, however, elected officials make potentially threatening decisions based on information that is actually useless. And if data trends are not valid, the potential security of citizens who come back to a kind of normal can also be as illusory. And for states that see case numbers increase, check5 states where coronavirus cases increase sharply.