Let's Beat Iceland: We Need a Covid-19 Testing Moonshot for Decision-Making (opens in new tab)

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1 pointserikdlarson6y ago6 comments

6 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

erikdlarsonOP6y ago· 4 in thread

In the whole world, there are only two places that can reasonably claim to be taking a scientific approach to those aspects of this virus at this point: Iceland and the Faeroe Islands. Both have tested about 3% of their populations (that’s about 6X better than South Korea, 12X better than Italy, and 100X better than the US). Iceland is trying to test a representative population, although their testing is still skewed towards ill and exposed people. The Danes of the Faeroe Islands are tracing almost 100% of cases.

If we're really feeling our oats, let's beat the Faeroe Islands!

ChefboyOG6y ago

Without taking any due praise away from Iceland's efforts, it's disingenious to compare Iceland's testing to other countries as a pure percentage of population. Iceland has a population of roughly 364,000. South Korea, for comparison, has over 51,000,000. 3% of one is not comparable to 3% of the other.

erikdlarsonOP6y ago

Of course not. But they can inspire us to start thinking A LOT bigger and more proactively. We could easily do it, and it would make a bigger difference than the $2T bailout.

erikdlarsonOP6y ago

Like I said, if you really want to be bold, let's take on the Faeroe Islands, they only have 51,000 people.

phillipseamore6y ago

Furthermore, Iceland is likely the only country to sequence every positive sample.

erikdlarsonOP6y ago

We should still do testing of sick people to support healthcare decisions as we are today. We should do more testing of exposed people for containment like in South Korea and Germany. But that doesn't help much with the broader governmental and societal decisions we need to make. We must do more. Embrace the "and." No more "or."

Since everything is moving so fast, just keep it bold and simple: Testing Race For COVID-19 Truth -- Test 30 Million People In 30 Days

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