Read on Twitter
@cdc is hanging it’s policy hat largely on this study from WI: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e3.htm How can they make broad policy decisions on the transmission rate in schools based on a study that did not broadly test the school’s population?
“No systematic COVID-19 screening was conducted in the schools or the community.”
“Patients’ close contacts were required to quarantine in their homes, and if they experienced symptoms during the quarantine period, they were further investigated to determine whether in-school spread might have occurred.”
“However, this study was unable to rule out asymptomatic transmission within the school setting because surveillance testing was not conducted.”
“Fourth, because schools did not perform infection screening of staff members and students, the prevalence of asymptomatic spread could not be determined.”
The problem with this was expressed nicely by @dgurdasani1
Full thread here: https://twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1346362159446577154?s=10
Studies that do not test asymptomatic members of the school community seem like the academic equivalent of Trump’s infamous quote: “If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any.”
Someone with relevant expertise please tell me why I am wrong about this! (Or, perhaps why I am correct?)
@DrEricDing @dgurdasani1 @CDCDirector @j_g_allen @ashishkjha @apoorva_nyc @michaelmina_lab @linseymarr @kprather88
@DrEricDing @dgurdasani1 @CDCDirector @j_g_allen @ashishkjha @apoorva_nyc @michaelmina_lab @linseymarr @kprather88
