
Gracie: I see in the paper where the TestIowa initiative is using a new test that will reduce the incidence of coronavirus.
George: A test surely can’t prevent it. You must mean a vaccine or treatment, right?
Gracie: No, they say the test itself will.
George: How do they know the test is what’s reducing the incidence of the disease?
Gracie: It’s already been used in Utah and produced just half as many positive tests as the other two tests they were using.
George: Wait a minute! You say half as many positives with the new test.
Gracie: That right it’s called “flattening the curve.” That’s why Iowa and Nebraska have decided to switch to the new test.
George: OMG. Say goodnight Gracie.
Gracie: Goodnight Gracie
Editorial note: Well she’s right it will lower the curve. So will the administration’s decision change the way we count cases and deaths. It’s true counting cases is mostly guesswork when such a small sample has been tested. But whether we undercount or over-count we’ve got to stick with the plan otherwise we’ve got a mess. Imagine what your house would look like if the carpenter who built your house switched from metric to feet half way through the job.