1/ Based on our work on Ebola & Zika, when Covid hit in January, we called for mass screening with rapid tests as a way to stop Covid in US & globally

>21m cases & 750K deaths later, this approach hasn't been used but still could help stop the pandemic https://hbr.org/2020/02/we-need-a-cheap-way-to-diagnose-coronavirus

2/ In @washingtonpost, @sri_srikrishna @AbraarKaran & I discuss how tests that provide fast results, can be decentralized widely to people's homes & used frequently to detect more infections quickly can close the window of transmission & paralyze spread

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/17/rapid-coronavirus-testing-pcr/

3/ This approach can be key to stopping Covid in the US & globally

The tests exist - they just need regulatory approvals, scaled up production & strategic buy-in to be deployed

We need @US_FDA & @WHO to clear hurdles and push this strategy forward

4/ Important to acknowledge past+current collaborators on related work: @paimadhu @g_chowell Dan Kelly @UCSF Bob Garry @Tulane @beier_dbeier @ashishkjha

Also @mtosterholm David Heymann @WHO @LSHTM & @Atul_Gawande who provided critical input & feedback in past years

5/ Also important to highlight the work & efforts of @michaelmina_lab @RWalensky @PaulSaxMD @j_g_allen & others who have pushed this approach to the forefront of discussions in recent weeks https://www.rapidtests.org/