In communities where most coronavirus tests are coming back positive, it’s a sign there are many more cases there that haven’t been found, say World Health Organization officials in a press conference on Monday.
“If 80-90% of the people test positive, you are probably missing a lot of cases,” says Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program.
That’s because more positives means the tests are being used mainly to confirm obvious cases, and as a result health authorities are not getting a clear picture on the scope of the epidemic in their area.
In places where every close contact and suspected case has been tested, the percent of negative cases is high. Ryan says in countries that have extensive testing, fewer than 12% of their tests are positive.
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For pictured March 30, 2020 map: See HERE