What you should know about rapid antigen tests

The United States is once again watching coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise as summertime nears. Nearly half of Americans – 45 percent – are living in communities with medium or high community levels of COVID-19, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest, and experts say the real numbers are likely far higher.

With little public masking and official tests undercounting the true scale right now, people must rely on personal decision-making more than ever. Though COVID deaths haven’t yet begun to mirror the latest uptick, the U.S. recently hit the grim milestone of 1 million record COVID deaths, and that number continues to climb.

So what can Americans be doing now to slow or limit the spread of the virus? And how do at-home antigen tests fit into the picture
PBS NewsHour digital anchor Nicole Ellis recently spoke to Katelyn Jetelina, who writes the Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter, breaking down the science of the pandemic.

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