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HKU expert questions effectiveness of mass covid-19 testing
As the Hong Kong government is ready to launch universal coronavirus tests for citizens, Professor Ben Cowling from School of Public Health of HKU, raised doubts about the effectiveness of the mass tests, saying contact tracing is a much more efficient method. He estimated that the mass testing would identify about 100 to 200 cases.
“That’s an enormous amount of money to get mostly negative results. We could still find most of those 100-plus people who are currently infected but not yet recognised as [such]. We could find most of those people by contact tracing, we wouldn’t find everyone,” said Cowling.
He also doubts if there will be a lot of public support for it, as not everyone will be willing to get tested.
