On that basis, a test designed to limit Covidâs spread only needs to have sensitivity rates of 30 per cent to 40 per cent, he said. âSo 50 per cent is actually a good value if that test is only meant to detect infection,â Prof Mina noted.
He told the committee that data increasingly showed that using rapid screening before large gatherings could prevent 90 per cent to 95 per cent of transmissions.
Prof Mina maintained that antigen testing passengers an hour before a flight was more likely to prevent virus transmission than requiring a negative PCR result from several days before, which the Republicâs authorities demand.