Strategic COVID-19 Pandemic Committee

False positives and over-testing are not driving up the case numbers. It is important for testing to continue.

COVID-19 Questions & Myths

Also see: The false positive rate of COVID-19 PCR tests is extremely low. What is a “cycle threshold” in PCR testing?

The false positive rate of COVID-19 PCR testing is extremely low. Many think that Alberta performs more tests than other provinces. This was true early in the pandemic when Alberta’s provincial laboratory was able to do more tests than other provinces. Then, Alberta trailed behind Ontario and PEI by approximately 20,000 tests until mid-January. As of April 12, 2021, on the CBC News Coronavirus Tracker, Alberta (86,299 tests/100,000 people) performed the highest number of tests with Ontario  (87,835 tests/ 100,000 people) and PEI (81,815 tests/ 100,000 people) next.

Increased testing of well people is not causing the problem. We continue to see increases in hospitalizations and deaths after 1-3 weeks of newly detected cases. Our death and ICU rates continue to climb.

Reference:
i. Tracking the Coronavirus, CBC News

CLICK ON MORE QUESTIONS TO SEE THE ANSWERS

PUBLIC HEALTH RESTRICTIONS

• Why is this virus so hard to control? Why do we need these restrictions?

• How do you know when a lockdown strategy is needed?

• Is what we have right now a complete lockdown? What is a circuit breaker strategy?

• The restrictions in Alberta have reduced mortality from COVID-19.

WHY CAN WE NOT RESUME NORMAL LIFE

• I'm 35 years old and not likely to die from COVID-19, so why should I have to follow all these rules?

• Why we can’t live with COVID-19 the same way as with seasonal influenza.

• Why we should not use a natural herd immunity strategy?

• What is Long COVID?

POTENTIAL LOCKDOWN BENEFIT

• The COVID-19 restrictions are saving lives.

• More people have died from COVID-19 than lockdowns.

• Which is worse for the economy, the pandemic or public health restrictions?

• COVID-19 has prevented access to healthcare for non-COVID-19 illnesses and conditions.

• Has the rate of suicides and drug overdoses changed during lockdowns?

• Has the crime rate changed during public health restrictions?

HEALTH SYSTEM

• How should we interpret daily data updates to understand the current threat of COVID-19?

• How many patients are in the hospital because of COVID-19 versus “WITH” COVID-19?

• The virus is threatening our healthcare capacity.

HYPOTHETICAL THERAPIES

• Does taking Vitamin D daily protect against COVID-19?

• Ivermectin is not a recommended therapy against this virus.

CONTACT TRACING

• What is contact tracing and why is it important?

FALSE POSITIVES

• The false positive rate of COVID-19 PCR tests is extremely low. What is a “cycle threshold” in PCR testing?

• False positives and over-testing are not driving up the case numbers. It is important for testing to continue.