These upward trends could be in response to businesses reopening around the country. Federal guidelines for reopening advise that states refrain from reopening until they have seen a downward trajectory to at least 12 days.

COVID-19 testing

The availability of testing still varies by states and the availability of testing does not explain an increase in cases and certainly doesn’t explain why the U.S. is leading in COVID-19 deaths. Rather, testing allows accurate data to be gathered about coronavirus spread and prevalence.

Priority testing is given to hospitalized patients with COVID symptoms, healthcare workers, first responders, and then those living in long term health facilities with symptom. But many experts believe that even those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms should be tested.

Since many people have mild symptoms, most can ride it out at home and self-quarantine. But for those with more severe symptoms a call to the doctor may help determine whether a test, if available is necessary.