Okay Minister Dr Michael Darville, now youse Covid theme is stretchin', so as be more like that utter fella, Renward and everything else like this and that, who certainly was **no medical Einstein,** ― Yes?

Who is going to pay 50,000 a week? Oh, nust let the people wjom are paying taxes now foot the bill because after all, they must pay " their fair share". Bunch of bull kaka. The money has to come from somewhere. Let them pay a portion. After all, they are the ones whom think the vaccine is here to kill black people and do not want to be vaccinated.

... its stupid to test asymptomatic people for disease, especially one that causes mild symptoms and virtually no hospitalizations. This would not be happening if covid testing was not a whole new industry that benefits a few!

Follow the money ........ Around the world.

They're not testing just for Omicron !! All the other variants are still active. Omicron doesn't just come along and the other mutations magically disappear into thin air.!!

C'mon people, start using logic and some of those critical thinking skills you were taught skills, instead of defaulting to your emotional biases.

... it should be clear that the kind of testing I am talking about is the simple PCR or rapid antigen tests, which cannot distinguish viral subtypes. Gene sequencing testing is needed for that and I stand by what I said!

The PCR test can identify the specific viral strain as long as the lab has the required technology to perform the sequencing.

And, your statement about "mild symptoms and virtually no hospitalizations" inferred you were talking specifically about Omicron and not all the strains. At least to me it did.

So since Omicron is like having a runny nose, we will be testing for a cold?

People seem to forget that Omicron hasn't replaced the other variants, it's just the newest one. Delta is still very much out there, which is why testing is still important.

Omicron symptoms might be milder, but the same doesn't apply to Delta.

... obviously Delta was associated with increased morbidity, hospitalizations and death. It has already been stated by the health authorities that although infection rates are climbing hospitalizations are not, which is consistent with Omicron infections! It is also known wthat infection with Omicron provides added protection against infections with Delta variant! So in reality everyone should be encouraged to get Omicron!

I have to admit, your last sentence has passed through my mind multiple times too.

"Asked about this, infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes said: “Yes, there is early information that the rapid antigen tests may be less likely and accurate to pick up COVID-19 cases from the Omicron strain and what does this translate into when we were looking at our practice and what we do is that if you are having symptoms and you have done a rapid antigen test and it is negative you should follow that up with a PCR test and we do have to be mindful of that and our technical team is looking closer at that to see if we will change any guidance.”"

These people are nuts, who can afford or wants to pay hundreds of dollars on tests, if you do not have severe symptoms/asymptomatic? While the government's efforts at providing free testing is commendable. We can probably save money and some relief by providing self-testing kits for the population as is currently being done in other countries.

Meanwhile, CDC/FDA are losing faith in PCR tests to detect Covid ........ What's next??????

Fellow Forbes needs to comment on that