https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/13/fda-approves-new-coronavirus-test-that-could-speed-rate-of-testing-up-to-tenfold/

The U.S. Food and Drug and Administration has granted emergency approval for use of a new test that can increase the range of testing patients by up to 10 times compared to methods in use currently, Bloomberg reports. That speed improvement refers specifically to the technical capabilities of the testing process, meaning access to testing is still a separate issue, but it is the first commercially available test that has received emergency approval and for which equipment exists in fairly high volume across the U.S.

Testing is a core component of the effort to combat and control the spread of COVID-19, since those affected by the virus display a wide range of symptoms, and many could be carriers with only very mild external signs of the disease. Having effective and broadly available testing methods, that can test a high volume of patients per day, is a key part of any defense strategy since it means more effectively identifying the scope of affected populations and reinforcing the need for mitigation strategies like social isolation and distancing.