Weekly population testing could stop this pandemic and prevent the next.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• The SARS-COV-2 delta variant spread rapidly in the UK, even with high vaccination rates.
• Relaxing social restrictions risks accelerating viral transmission without improved testing and tracing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of weekly population testing on the reproduction number (R) during the relaxation of social restrictions.
• To propose a scalable testing strategy for future pandemic preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing self-taken saliva samples analyzed by RT-LAMP in local facilities.
• Conducting whole-city demonstration studies to assess costs and effectiveness.
• Establishing local population registers for invitations, sample management, and contact tracing.

Main Results:

• Weekly population testing can significantly enhance control of viral spread.
• RT-LAMP saliva testing offers a scalable solution for increased testing capacity.
• Integrated population registers are crucial for efficient testing and tracing operations.

Conclusions:

• Implementing weekly population testing is essential to mitigate social and economic damage from viral spread.
• A robust testing and tracing framework, managed by national health services with public support, can suppress future pandemics.
• This strategy provides a scalable model for rapid pandemic response and control.