ANALYSIS: Testing is key but a testing-only strategy is called a "complete failure."

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Fri, 2020-10-09 11:31 — mike kraft

Coronavirus testing is key, but a testing-only strategy is a 'complete failure' Until President Trump's coronavirus infection, the White House strategy for keeping him and others in the administration safe was one of testing only. Andrea Kane, CNN CNN

(CNN) Until President Trump's coronavirus infection, the White House strategy for keeping him and others in the administration safe was one of testing only.

The President was rarely seen engaging in two of the most effective and widely promoted public health measures, social distancing and wearing a mask, and many of those who surround him followed his lead. ...

Testing, however, was apparently a strategy Trump could get behind, and so he and his staff were tested often -- the President was said to be tested as often as once a day, possibly more, according to initial reports. ...

In light of recent developments -- the President, the first lady and an ever-widening circle of White House staffers and associates becoming infected with the coronavirus -- it's fair to say the testing-only strategy did not work out well.

That outcome does not surprise public health experts.

"It's a complete failure. It was just a matter of time," said Dr. Rob Murphy, a professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern University and executive director of the Institute for Global Health. ...

Dr. Jared Baeten, the vice dean of the University of Washington School of Public Health and a professor of global health, medicine and epidemiology, agreed.

Testing the President every day "doesn't keep him any safer," said Baeten, but it did allow doctors to start therapies on him quickly.

"Testing is incredibly important but testing alone is not enough," he said. "Testing yourself every day only lets you know early ... really quickly after you've become infected. It doesn't prevent you from becoming infected." ...

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