Miami Now Beginning Random Sample Testing

Miami mayor: “The more information that I have at my fingertips, and the more information the researchers have, the better decisions that they’re going to make”

Berger: “We need this right here, right now”

Raleigh, N.C. — Below are excerpts from NBC about the beginning of Miami’s random sample testing program. Miami’s mayor told NBC, “The more information that I have at my fingertips and the more information the researchers have, the better decisions that they’re going to make.”

Senator Berger said, “Miami’s mayor is right on point, and we need the same data here. It may reveal that current restrictions don’t go far enough, or it may show information that gives us cause for optimism. Either way, we need this right here, right now.”

From NBC:

“The chosen will have to fill out a questionnaire provided by the school. Then, they’ll be directed to one of ten locations in the county for a coronavirus test. The new testing will be a blood test, as opposed to the nasal swab tests common in drive-through testing locations. Results will be back the next business day. County Fire and Rescue crews will administer the tests.

“County officials hope to get a better understanding about where the virus has spread so they can divert staff, testing, and other resources to areas that need to be address specifically.

…

“Right now, most of the drive-through testing locations are only testing the sick, old, and first responders. Those results could hide what is really happening on the ground because they are testing only a certain population. Health workers are only guessing currently where the virus is, who it infects, and what the longterm health impacts are.

“‘The one factor that we don’t have, that hardly anybody has. What percentage of the population is actually infected and are their groups of them because all we are testing right now is people who are 65 and older,’ said Mayor Gimenez. ‘The more information that I have at my fingertips and the more information the researchers have, the better decisions that they’re going to make.’”