Delays, errors and a fragmented response initially kept public health officials in the dark about the spread of SARS-CoV-2. More tests and easy access could play a critical role in slowing the virus. In January 2020, the worst public health emergency in over a century was brewing. By January 30, the World Health Organization recognized it as such. But the United States struggled with one of the most basic tenets of controlling a pandemic: knowing who is infected. Unlike in other countries and despite having the know-how and the technology, tests for Covid-19 were not widely available for weeks, with the FDA only approving private labs to use their own tests by the end of February of that year. By that time, the SARS-CoV-2 had already spread. That head start, and a continuing deficit in access to frequent, rapid testing, is one reason the US has since recorded over 700,000 pandemic deaths. In interviews with a number of experts, this video explores what went wrong with testing early in the pandemic, why that was a problem and the testing strategies that could be put in place now to slow down the spread of Covid-19. READ MORE: The race to develop paper-based tests for coronavirus —— https://knowmag.org/3DkLCcD This video is part of Reset: The Science of Crisis & Recovery, an ongoing series exploring how the world is navigating the coronavirus pandemic, its consequences and the way forward. Reset is supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Watch more videos from Knowable Magazine. Sign up for our newsletter: https://knowmag.org/3eCjqIO See our full video catalog here: https://knowmag.org/35srh4o About Knowable Magazine: Knowable Magazine explores the real-world significance of scholarly work through a journalistic lens. We report on the current state of play across a wide variety of fields — from agriculture to high-energy physics; biochemistry to water security; the origins of the universe to psychology. Review articles written by leading scholars from the 51 Annual Reviews journals serve as springboards for stories in Knowable Magazine. Through in-depth features, explainers, articles, essays, interviews, infographics, slideshows, and comics, Knowable Magazine presents insights from research to a broader audience. Connect with us: Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KnowableMag Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnowableMagazine Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowablemag/ CREDIT: HUNNI MEDIA FOR KNOWABLE MAGAZINE