The number of daily coronavirus tests conducted in the United States is only 52 percent of the level necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus, according to estimates by researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute.
The number of daily coronavirus tests conducted in the United States is only 52 percent of the level necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus, according to estimates by researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Covid-19Guidance
Comments
Is Your State Doing Enough Coronavirus Testing?
ByKeith CollinsUpdatedNovember 1, 2020
This page is no longer being updated. To see current testing levels in your area, follow the link to your state from the STATES menu above the headline.
The number of daily coronavirus tests being conducted in the United States is 52 percent of the level considered necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus, as many states struggle to increase testing.
An average of 1,193,000 tests per day were performed over the past week, according to data collected by theCovid Tracking Project, well below the current nationwide target of 2.3 million daily tests. The target, which is based on a methodology developed by researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute, is different for each state and varies over time as infection rates change.
The figures for some states, marked with an asterisk (*) below, indicate one test reported for each individual tested, even if that person is tested more than once. The figures for the other states indicate the total number of specimens tested, including when an individual is tested more than once, which can lead to higher reported test numbers and lower positivity rates.
How each state’s current testing measures up
Average daily testing and hospitalizations in the last two weeks
Testing operations in the United States were delayed at the start of the outbreak after tests developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were found to be faulty. Since then, testing levels have steadily increased across the country, but many states havestruggled to stay ahead of new outbreaksas overwhelmed labs report processing delays and shortages of crucial testing supplies. The resulting backlog can leave sick people undiagnosed, with the potential to further spread the virus as states reopen.
The Harvard researchers say that at minimum there should be enough daily capacity to test anyone who has flu-like symptoms and an additional 10 people for any symptomatic person who tests positive for the virus. That level of testing — which, according to researchers, is the minimum necessary to mitigate the disease — would require a significant increase over the number of daily tests currently being performed. Their estimates for the testing required to suppress the spread of the virus aremuch higher.
Aside from current testing levels, another important indicator of a state’s testing performance is its positive test rate, which is the percent of tests that come back positive. Lower rates suggest that testing is more widespread and that it is not limited to those with severe symptoms. Positive rates should be at or below 5 percent for at least 14 days before a state or country can safely reopen, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, the current positive rate is 6 percent.
Where testing is far below recommended levels
Most states remain far from the minimum level of testing needed to reduce the spread of the virus.
Rate of testing compared to target
States are ordered by current testing shortfall
Where testing is above or near recommended levels
Over time, some states have reached the minimum testing target, and a few have exceeded it.
Rate of testing compared to target
States are ordered by current testing levels
Tracking the Coronavirus
United States
Latest Maps and Data
Cases and deaths for every county
Deaths Above Normal
The true toll of the pandemic in the U.S.
Cities and Metro Areas
Where it is getting better and worse
Testing
Is your state doing enough?
Nursing Homes
The hardest-hit states and facilities
Colleges and Universities
Cases at more than 1,000 schools
Restrictions
What is open and closed in each state
World
Latest Maps and Data
Cases and deaths for every country
Deaths Above Normal
The true toll of coronavirus around the world
Health
Vaccines
Track their development
Treatments
Rated by effectiveness and safety
Countries
States, Territories and Cities
Sources:The Covid Tracking Project; theHarvard Global Health Institute;Youyang Gu’s Covid-19 Forecasts; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Note: Testing targets are calculated daily using the methodologydevelopedby the Harvard Global Health Institute (exact figures may differ because of recent changes in underlying projections). Two-week rolling averages are calculated using the most recent 14 days for which data is available. Some states may include non-diagnostic tests, like antibody tests, in the data they release, which can affect reported testing rates. Some states don’t consistently release data on current hospitalizations (see more information about missing datahere.) Case data is from the Covid Tracking Project for consistency with daily testing data.
Because of a data issue, earlier versions of this article, which had been updated daily, gave incorrect figures for state and national testing targets during the period of publication from Nov. 2 to Nov. 11. The article now reflects targets as of Nov. 1, not through Nov. 11.