Many states with reopening dates aren't testing enough to 'even consider' reopening, study finds
Several states are planning to loosen social distancing guidelines and let business resume as usual. Some have already done so.
But a study from Harvard University and Stat News suggests more than half of the country "will have to significantly step up their COVID-19 testing to even consider starting to relax stay-at-home orders." While some states are testing above capacity, others — namely hard-hit states — will have to perform thousands more tests per day to safely reopen.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has been criticized, even by some of his fellow Republicans, for moving to reopen gyms, hairdressers, and theaters before it's safe to do so. Harvard and Stat News' study backs this up: "To catch hot spots before they turn into wildfires of disease, Georgia must do 9,600 to 10,000 tests per day," Stat News writes. It's currently averaging around 4,000. Florida has moved toward reopening despite testing just over 10,000 people per day when it should be hitting 16,000. But South Carolina, which has also cautiously reopened in the past week, recently hit the daily window of 1,200-1,600 tests the study deemed necessary for a safe resumption of business.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stat News is sure to note that "performing enough tests is only one of the essential steps before states can reopen," and that the study is based on "best-case scenarios." Testing result turnarounds need to be sped up, exposed people need to be identified more quickly, and hospitals and nursing homes need more protective supplies, to name a few. Find the whole study at Stat News.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'Election Day. Finally.'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Incendiary device plot: Russia's 'rehearsals' for attacks on transatlantic flights
The Explainer Security officials warn of widespread Moscow-backed 'sabotage campaign' in retaliation for continued Western support for Ukraine
By The Week UK Published
-
Outer Hebrides: a top travel destination
The Week Recommends Discover 'unspoiled beauty' of the Western Isles
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published