Data on coronavirus infections that was a key driver in Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s aggressive push to reopen the state was flawed and may have distorted perceptions of progress against the virus.
Georgia Department of Public Health spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said in an emailed statement Thursday that the department included antibody tests when calculating the total number of tests conducted “since early April.” Georgia State University infectious disease expert Dr. Richard Rothenberg said combining antibody tests with the more common viral tests can create confusion about the current impact of the virus. That’s because antibody tests tell you whether a person had the coronavirus in the past.
Credit Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP