"The popularity of testing for asymptomatic people among the public has seldom borne much relationship to actual utility of the test."
"When rapid antigen tests were introduced, we were promised they would 'identify those who are likely to spread the disease, and when used systematically in mass testing could reduce transmissions by 90%.' Yet despite the UK spending more than  �7bn [over $9 billion] on [home tests] since mid-2020, the lack of hard evidence on this promised impact is striking."
"International comparisons are complex and influenced by many factors, but Japan, which has actively limited widespread self-testing, has a covid-19 death rate an order of magnitude less than that of the UK, Germany, where testing of asymptomatic people has been a feature, and the USA."
"When the high cost to low benefit ratio is pointed out, we are told that more screening is needed, or that the tests are 'transformational' and 'a part of daily life.' Everyday use of tests may indeed be transformational for those with a stake in the testing industry, but the financial burden is borne by taxpayers."
"Messages to the public about the reliability of these tests, and about whether, when, and how to self-test are mixed and ever changing."
"Surely it is time to start afresh. Publication of this new paper should prompt the [government] to reassess its authorisations of rapid antigen tests in asymptomatic people. The public deserves to have better evaluations, ensuring good test performance in real life settings, and a policy that specifies effective and efficient test use for carefully targeted purposes."
Now that you know the truth, your use of home test kits can become smarter and more useful.
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