Scoring COVID test kits a big step forward

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Hello everyone,

Friday’s announcement of the state’s purchase of coronavirus  200,000 test kits is a major step forward in efforts to safely reopen businesses and offices.

The state purchased 200,000 saliva-based tests from Curative, a Los Angeles-based company that has supplied COVID-19 tests to Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Curative comes with an interesting back story as a tech start-up that targeted the deadly Sepsis infection that accounts for many hospital deaths.

The company pivoted as the coronavirus threat emerged. New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer brought the company to the attention of state health officials and Gov. John Carney.

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According to a Yale  study the “spit tests”  are more accurate than the swab tests that will continue to be used. With a lab in Washington, D.C. the company is shooting for short turnaround times.

Click here for a video on how the test is performed and its potential use in the home setting. 

Administering an estimated 80,000 tests a month is a  tall order. Still, the state’s health care system has shown itself capable of ramping up testing to the point that Delaware moved  into the top 10 among the 50 states (based on tests per 100,000 population).

The new tests will allow Delaware to quadruple its testing rate and allow testing of people without symptoms and entire populations (prisons, colleges, poultry processors, care facilities etc.)

The next big step for the state will be contact tracing. It will require more health care workers who can track down contacts of people who test positive for the virus.

Expect technology to play a role if privacy concerns can be worked out. Hair salons and perhaps restaurants may want to think about the European practice of having customers write down their name, address, and phone number in the event that a customer tests positive.

A final note –  Those threatening to “storm the beach” might want to take a look at the accompanying map on coronavirus hotspots in the state. The outbreak in Sussex is widespread. Luckily, extensive testing is underway.

It looks like a nice Monday. Take a walk  as many of us work to get rid of that “COVID ten.”   – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.

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