“The more we can expand our testing, the more we can learn how to use our medical resources more efficiently, and how we need to focus our current efforts to contain the virus," Walsh said. "I want to thank MGH for being an excellent partner on this effort that we hope will be a step forward toward the path to recovery.”
So far, testing has been made available by our healthcare providers to residents and frontline workers who have symptoms of COVID-19, along with universal testing of our homeless population who are at high risk of contracting the virus.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) April 26, 2020
For the study, MGH will collect data from 1,000 asymptomatic Boston residents this week by testing for both the COVID-19 virus and the COVID-19 antibodies, WFXT reported.
To test for COVID-19, they swab the nose. To test for antibodies, they draw blood through a finger prick to detect whether blood has antibodies present when the body is responding to an infection, such as coronavirus.
“A growing body of evidence suggests that many people who have been infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, but we don’t yet know how prevalent the disease is in our city, in our communities and in our society," Slavin said.
Slavin added that testing will provide vital clues into the spread of the virus and help medical professionals develop strategies to slow down or stop COVID-19.
Participation is voluntary to residents contacted. Testing is expected to be completed by May 1 and summary data of compiled results will be made public, although no personal information will be shared.
We know that increasing access to testing is critical for us to better understand the prevalence of #COVID19 in our community.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) April 26, 2020
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