As the U.S. recorded its five highest days of coronavirus cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said this is the perfect time to develop a strategy to better detect asymptomatic cases. The nationwide seven-day average of new daily cases now stands at about 86,363, more than double what it was on September 4 per the data provided by Johns Hopkins University.

“Now is the time to develop a testing strategy to maximize our ability to identify the silent epidemic of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections”, Redfield tweeted Wednesday. By the CDC’s estimate, 40% of people with COVID-19 show no symptoms. Dr. Thomas Tsai of the Harvard Global Health Institute told CNN in an email the time to develop a national testing strategy to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 infections passed a few months ago. “But that ship has sailed”, Tsai said, “now is the time to implement a testing strategy focused on screening of asymptomatic individuals”.

Whatever time it is, we are definitely in need of some expert guidance. Although opinions vary on what and how, we are all in agreement that the time is now! As our numbers continue to grow, we can’t lose sight of what needs to be done! Stay the course, stay strong, stay well, mask up, and stay tuned!