Another new rapid test has received emergency use approval by the FDA. It seems the news about rapid testing for Covid-19 has outstripped real world testing.This test was discussed at length during a recent UCSF Grand Rounds. It uses a card, works like a home pregnancy test, and delivers results in 15 minutes and costs about $5. Dr. Michael Osterholm, from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) cautions that the test’s low sensitivity may make it inappropriate for diagnostic purposes.
Osterholm discusses the issue at greater length in a recent podcast.
You don’t need a test for a flu shot.
Now onto the numbers.
HiGeorge, a data visualization startup, developed some new visualizations for Mission Local, which we will be using and fine-tuning in the days to come.
Although there has been increased testing in the Mission, the number of recently reported cases seems low. Only one case was added yesterday bringing the Mission to a total 1225 as of August 25.
Although Covid confirmed and suspected hospitalization numbers fell below 90 for the first time since July 13, hospital capacity figures also fell. 9 fewer available ICU beds and 3 fewer available Acute Care beds were reported today. Nontheless, DPH reports a seven-day average of 33 percent of ICU beds and 23 percent of Acute Care beds available as of August 24.
The seven day average of daily tests collected in SF as of August 20 was 3728, well above the DPH goal of 1800 per day.