But when you get tested for coronavirus, you not only benefit individually, you also provide a layer of protection for your family, friends and society. You stop other people from catching the virus and facing isolation. You help take the load off the health system by staying home if you discover you have the virus, especially if you are asymptomatic.
When workers can remain in stores and on the front line providing necessary services from food to healthcare, there are huge economic benefits. There’s also the difficult-to-measure but critical element of consumer confidence and spending.
It’s definitely a good thing that the government has decided those who are deemed to “need” rapid antigen tests can get them at no cost, but those who don’t fit this definition should be able to get them, too.
This is because there are obvious benefits or “positive externalities” for everyone to get tested regularly. In contrast with the…
