In Detroit, which has been ravaged by COVID-19, Mayor Mike Duggan has made mass testing the centerpiece of his administration’s response.
“The way we beat this is through testing, and knowing who’s infected and who’s not, so we can separate," Duggan has said.
Some may wonder what benefits mass testing provides at this stage in the pandemic. After all, we know it’s here and that it’s spreading. And testing may not change any individual patient’s treatment.
But experts say widespread testing is crucial for public health — and can be vital for patients as well.