"If we tested more, we'd defeat the virus", said a expert on TV. And many have echoed the words of the expert.

As for me, here's what I know about COVID-19 testing...

Testing enables decisions, both clinical and public health decision making. To the latter, it tells us about the outbreak dissipating or impending. It therefore is essential to inform resource allocation thereby helps to reduce socioeconomic disruption associated with outbreaks

But there's no record of a people ever testing their way out of an outbreak, and I doubt this will start now. Yes, POTUS is right, the more you test the more cases you find, it's logical. It's also true that however you test, if there are no cases then you won't find them.

What testing won't do is remove personal responsibility. You and I still need to do the following, mentioned two days ago and repeatedly so by many others. Should be second nature to you by now... https://twitter.com/fmdien/status/1289024709854715904?s=19

Testing doesn't substitute for any of these. These are gold to you and I.

A negative test does not mean that you are not going to be positive tomorrow. With known delays, your negative result that comes after 48hrs is historically good. Sam put it better https://twitter.com/zewesk/status/1287843694901690370?s=19

A negative test does not ask you to protect the vulnerable in your community. Remember, we (nearly) all will get it but we don't have to do so at once. The curve has to be flattened.

And because we (nearly) all will get it, some will die but that number will likely be much more reduced by personal responsibility than testing. And I'm not saying testing is unimportant. I am saying personal responsibility is more important than it.

Testing is
-helping identify new hotspots and facilitating extra appropriate action;
-facilitating early isolation and institution of the best available care;
-facilitating early decisions to protect the vulnerable; and
-enabling systematic contact tracing.

Testing is important.

We by now know that the elderly, diabetics, hypertensives, Asthmatics & those with AIDS are more vulnerable. We need to protect them. Testing will do its part as above but personal responsibility will seek that these vulnerable members of our community are identified & protected

If you live in a household with someone with the above vulnerabilities and go about your life 'normally' because you tested negative two weeks ago then you're irresponsible.

Even if you can afford to test yourself weekly, not caring for the vulnerable is irresponsible.

And on a small technical note, surveillance testing is different from clinicodiagnostic testing. We prefer to separate these two but if we can't then prioritisation differ. So if you're at home, you might have to wait a bit longer to know your results than a sick person will.

In short, we know how to flatten the curve. Here it is again: https://twitter.com/fmdien/status/1289024709854715904?s=19