How We Misunderstand COVID Testing
COVID testing sites are currently seeing long lines. There is a troubling surge in cases during the past couple of weeks but the present rush to COVID testing is largely due to a huge misconception. COVID testing is not a pass to celebrate Thanksgiving indoors with family and friends. The rate at which the coronavirus multiplies and therefore becomes detectable needs to be considered. A negative COVID testing result tells us that an individual does not carry enough viral load to be detected only at the time of testing. "At the time of testing" is key to using correctly the result of a COVID test. During the past summer, some tourist destinations resorted to a COVID test as a requirement for travel, which probably added to the misconception that a negative COVID result was enough proof for safety. Georgetown University remained open during the current semester to a few students and researchers but these individuals had been required to be tested twice a week. Without a vaccine