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Showing Original Post only (View all)Bill Gates calls America's Coronavirus Testing Data "Bogus" [View all]
Appearing on CNN Thursday, Bill Gates called America's coronavirus testing data "bogus," in part because "the United States does not make sure you get results in 24 hours."
Testing in the U.S. remains a long and complicated task, and it can take several days before people are told whether they have tested positive or negative for COVID-19.
"If you get your test results within 24 hours so you can act on it, then let's count it," Gates said, adding that people were most infectious within the first three to four days after infection and might continue to interact with others and spread the virus until they have definitive results. "What's the point of the test?" he said. "That's your period of greatest infectiousness."
Gates added that residents of low-income neighborhoods had lesser access to testing facilities and were not prioritized, despite indications that the virus has taken a disproportionate toll on marginalized communities.
"Our system fails to have the prioritization that would give us an accurate picture of what's going on," he said.
While America is now testing about 200,000 people a day, the [Business Insider] article cites experts from Harvard University who believe 20 million tests a day are what's needed to fully "remobilize the economy."
Testing in the U.S. remains a long and complicated task, and it can take several days before people are told whether they have tested positive or negative for COVID-19.
"If you get your test results within 24 hours so you can act on it, then let's count it," Gates said, adding that people were most infectious within the first three to four days after infection and might continue to interact with others and spread the virus until they have definitive results. "What's the point of the test?" he said. "That's your period of greatest infectiousness."
Gates added that residents of low-income neighborhoods had lesser access to testing facilities and were not prioritized, despite indications that the virus has taken a disproportionate toll on marginalized communities.
"Our system fails to have the prioritization that would give us an accurate picture of what's going on," he said.
While America is now testing about 200,000 people a day, the [Business Insider] article cites experts from Harvard University who believe 20 million tests a day are what's needed to fully "remobilize the economy."
https://science.slashdot.org/story/20/05/02/0046236/bill-gates-complains-americas-coronavirus-testing-data-is-bogus?utm_source=feedburnerFaceBook&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29&utm_content=FaceBook&fbclid=IwAR2vNdlp1JG45QKOYSUM94z01N6X7A5skdhYV9AdvbJNF4SszLowVZxKpqU
Gates told The Financial Times that his foundation, which has an endowment of more than $40 billion (AUD$62b), was prepared to put all of its resources toward fighting the virus, even if it meant efforts to combat other deadly diseases would suffer as a result.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/gates-foundation-will-commit-total-attention-to-coronavirus-pandemic/ar-BB13ecOA

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It's so obvious that he should head up the next Democratic administration's CV Task Force.
ancianita
May 2020
#5
I think epidemiologists would be more in their wheelhouse working under him. He's a systems guy.
ancianita
May 2020
#10
K&R +1,000,000 The lack of regard for real SCIENCE has been appalling with this pandemic
diva77
May 2020
#3
The truth about testing cannot be overstated. AND it's best stated by a person who runs
ancianita
May 2020
#18
And I think people were finally getting that, seeing him every night
Laura PourMeADrink
May 2020
#29
No, it's okay. I'm just so frustrated and really scared by what the real numbers
MerryBlooms
May 2020
#37
re: ""What's the point of the test? That's your period of greatest infectiousness."
thesquanderer
May 2020
#16