Been seeing this preprint make the rounds about mass rapid antigen testing and a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 spread in Slovakia. Readers will logically ask: "why we can't do this in the U.S.?"
Well, several reasons
(1/6)

https://cmmid.github.io/topics/covid19/Slovakia.html

First is the massive population difference between the U.S. and Slovakia. Slovakia's total population is a bit larger than the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The U.S. would need to conduct ~ 310 million tests over a two-week period. That's not feasible right now. (2/6)

Second is that Slovakia instituted multiple mitigation measures before this mass rapid antigen testing including: (i) mask mandates, (ii) national stay-at-home order, (iii) closing of bars, schools (age 14+), gyms, spas, churches, and theaters. (3/6)

Third, and this the real kicker, is that SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in Slovakia was much, much lower than the U.S. When the pilot testing programme began, the highest regional %‐positive rate in Slovakia was 4.8%.
The highest %‐positive rate in the U.S. right now is ~50%. (4/6)

I think this is an excellent preprint. But we need to be realistic about the contrasts between Slovakia and the U.S., particularly SARS-CoV-2 prevalence.
Slovakia instituted a series of science-based mitigation steps to make this mass testing experiment work. (5/6)

There is no silver bullet to get us out of this mess, including mass rapid antigen tests. We need to take a series of drastic actions to slow down the spread like Slovakia did.
More rapid tests? Sure!
But let's not sell false hope that'll turn everything around. (6/6)