The UK cant even keep track of its spiralling Covid-19 case numbers – Wired.co.uk

To figure out how well(or badly)a nation is keeping the virus spread under control, one metric that comes in convenient is the test positivity rate. Taking a closer look at the test positivity rate in the UK might be the most efficient way of understanding what exactly is going on, how infection transmission is happening– and whether sufficient testing is being done.Put merely, the test positivity rate is the number of tests that come back with a favorable diagnosis, divided by the total number of tests done. It can go up for two factors: if a higher percentage of tests come back positive, or if less tests are being done. As opposed to the real number of validated cases, the test positivity rate can be utilized to inform how difficult one has to look to find a case.The lower the number, the much better. Simply since the test rate is a certain number– 28 per cent in London, for example– that does not imply that near 30 per cent of Londoners have Covid-19.

Taking a more detailed look at the test positivity rate in the UK may be the most efficient method of deciphering what precisely is going on, how infection transmission is taking place– and whether adequate screening is being done.Put simply, the test positivity rate is the number of tests that come back with a positive medical diagnosis, divided by the overall number of tests done. It can go up for 2 factors: if a higher percentage of tests come back favorable, or if less tests are being done. As opposed to the real number of verified cases, the test positivity rate can be utilized to inform how hard one has to look to find a case.The lower the number, the better.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply