Covid-19 Pandemic
 Here’s the latest news: Trump restricts U.S. entry from Brazil on virusU.K. furor follows Johnson aide’s lockdown breachOxford vaccine faces testing hurdle The right tests to get testing right For months, there has been a debate about whether the U.S. can test, and test sufficiently, to track Covid-19 infections. Sick people struggled to get tested, while labs couldn’t get their hands on tests, or were short of swabs to take patient samples and chemicals to process tests. As the country’s capacity has increased, these problems haven’t entirely gone away. But lately a new concern has emerged about how well the U.S. is counting and reporting the tests it does perform. There are two kinds of tests that can be done now for the coronavirus, and though they were developed for the same pandemic, the differences are vast. Most importantly, they tell test-takers different things. Diagnostic tests look for active infections and present a picture of current Covid-19 cases. Antibody tests, meanwhile, detect markers in the blood that reveal whether a person has been exposed to the virus in the past and help determine the level of community exposure. In their reports and questions on testing capacity, decision-makers and public-health experts have largely focused on the diagnostic form, because it measures active illnesses and the tests are considered particularly reliable.  Residents of Chelsea, Massachusetts, line up to get a rapid fingerstick antibody blood test for the coronavirus Photographer: Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe /Getty Images That’s what made the revelation that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and some states combined completed diagnostic tests and antibody tests in public datasets surprising. By mixing two test results, the CDC and the states presented a distorted picture of Covid-19 cases and the country’s overall capability. The practice was first reported by The Atlantic. The CDC says it’s working to distinguish the two types of tests, while some states recently stopped the practice of combining them. Some of the states also said antibody tests made up a small share of their counts. The whole situation, while messy, underscores the uphill battle not just to test but to build the infrastructure to track test results. Results that, of course, have enormous implications for when places reopen and how safe it will be to do so.—Emma Court Get in touch Tell Us Your Covid Story  What has the recession looked like for you? We want to hear your stories. The economics team at Bloomberg News has created an email where you can share your experience: covidstories@bloomberg.net. What you should read Did Japan Beat the Virus Its Own Way? Success against the pathogen comes despite loose lockdown. China Warns of ‘New Cold War’ with U.S. Relationship has worsened dramatically in the past few months. Republicans Sue Over Mail-In Ballot Order California Governor Newsom signed executive order earlier this month. Outbreak Easing May Not Bring Respite for Abe Prime minister’s support plunges to record low in new poll. Stand-up, Reruns Fill Pandemic TV Schedules Networks are desperate for content—and one producer is minting millions. Know someone else who would like this newsletter? Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022 |
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