White House Outbreak Highlights Dangers Of Test-Only Strategy To Prevent Infections

Regular coronavirus testing can be a valuable tool in preventing the spread of infection but only if accompanied with other critical health measures including quarantining of contacts of known positive cases, experts say.

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Updated 1:20 p.m. ET

The spread of the coronavirus inside the White House is a stark reminder of the danger of relying on testing to prevent outbreaks, experts say.

“I think the takeaway is clear: Testing alone is not a sufficient strategy to prevent spread of the virus,” says Daniel Green, an assistant professor of pathology and cell biology at Columbia University.