U.S. should have a big leap forward on testing to make reopening possible, Dr. Birx says

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Global health expert, Dr. Deborah Birx, is optimistic over the latest results of COVID-19 infections, saying that the nation will open again soon.
• She noted, though, that the testing capacity should be expanded first before restrictions are lifted.
• Dr. Birx added that social distancing must also be continued as the U.S gradually opens again.

Coordinator for Trump administration’s coronavirus task force,  Dr. Deborah Birx, told the “Meet the Press, ” an NBC News show on Sunday that the recent COVID-19 stats kept her optimistic the economy will get to gradually open again in few months time.

Birx noted, though, that the social distancing restrictions shall be continued through the summer in the U.S.

Birx added that while President Donald Trump, along with many governors, wishes to reopen the economy, she said the U.S. needs to step up and expand the coronavirus testing capacity across the nation so Americans may have a complete data of how many people infected.

The vaccine research expert said the White House’s COVID-19 task force is to continue cooperating with states to increase testing capacity for people confirmed to be infected with the virus, regardless of the severity of their symptoms.

Birx further noted that the existing testing kit, which gets a sample from an individual’s mouth or nose, will only be good until spring and summer. However, a significant development about testing, such as quick-response antigen tests, can speed up the process and broaden the range of testing.

One significant aspect to consider when finally deciding to easying up on the coronavirus measures is having a complete picture of how many are coronavirus positive. The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned on Saturday that there’s no sufficient proof yet that people who were previously infected, but recovered, still have the risk of being reinfected.

The doctor also commented on Trump’s recent pronouncement about UV light or disinfectant as possible treatments. She said in an interview with Fox News on Saturday that the President was just reviewing recent research about the virus’s reaction against sunlight.

Trump later remarked that his statements were sarcastic in nature.

Birx, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci and other members of the task force, all agree that the method Trump suggested was simply not a treatment, noting that the group’s decision and recommendation are all based on valid data.

During the same interview with “Meet the Press,” Birx expressed her hope about the nation’s fight against the pandemic. She also noted that the latest COVID-19 models indicate that the U.S is going in a promising direction, following the suggestion made by Vice President Mike Pence days ago that the infection will be mostly flattened after May 25, which is the Memorial Day.    

Birx further commented that previous models use available worldwide data, and it has since improved as the government is now able to have a separate and more efficient tracing capability within the country.

She added that as the restrictions are slowly lifted, social distancing must still be practiced over the summer to make sure that the virus will no longer spread.

Source: AOL