Dr. Eric Topol says rapid Covid tests are 'not perfect' — here's how he recommends using them.
The founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute said that because rapid antigen-based Covid tests are not as accurate as PCR tests, it is best to use them frequently to establish confidence in the results.
"We can't fully rely on testing" during this omicron wave, Topol said, stressing the importance of wearing masks to help reduce virus transmission. "And if we're going to use rapid tests, they've got to be as close proximal to the time of the event as possible, and that would include travel," he said.
Topol, an expert in genomics and individualized medicine, said so far the data suggests omicron mostly causes mild sickness in people who have received the Covid vaccine, including a booster shot. "With omicron, there's a lot of breakthroughs," Topol said, suggesting it is about "five fold" more than the number of breakthrough infections caused by the delta variant. "Most of them have been reported to be pretty mild so far, so that's the great news."
To be sure, Topol said there continues to be uncertainty surrounding the omicron variant, which was first detected last month. "We're going to see a really large number of new infections ... and a fraction of those are going to be not mild," he said. "They're going to be severe, and we just don't know what that fraction is yet."
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams breaks down in tears after baby son tests positive for COVIDThis Morning medic Dr Zoe Williams broke down in tears after her baby son Lisbon tested positive for coronavirus
Read more »
Some Rapid Tests May Not Detect Omicron Effectively, Dr. Fauci SaysHere’s what to know before any holiday gatherings.
Read more »
Eric Decker Gives Emotional Speech At Demaryius Thomas ServiceEric Decker choked back tears as he gave a powerful speech at a celebration of life for Demaryius Thomas on Monday.
Read more »
Dr. Fauci: To address Omicron surge, ‘please get boosted’Dr. Anthony Fauci joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the latest surge in Omicron cases and the importance of boosters. “We know when you look at the data that we have, that the protection against infection alone, symptomatic infection dramatically diminishes when it comes to Omicron. But fortunately for us, when you get a booster shot, it reconstitutes it up really well, particularly protecting against severe disease that would lead to hospitalizations,” says Dr. Fauci. “If you want to address, which we all do, this extraordinary challenge, please get boosted.”
Read more »
Dr. Phil Gives Mental Health Tips for the HolidaysWe’re almost two years into the pandemic and people are still struggling mentally and emotionally. So how do you cope? DrPhil shares his tips with WebMD Chief Medical Officer drjohnwhyte. You can watch their conversation here:
Read more »
Here’s Where to Watch ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ For Free to See Jim Carrey as the Classic Dr. Seuss CharacterPlus, how to stream Benedict Cumberbatch's animated 'Grinch' movie at no cost. ❄️
Read more »