A Look Back at COVID-19 Testing in March and April

Laboratories across the United States conducted a total of 292,756 COVID-19 tests between March 1 and April 18. Those laboratories provided that data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which then made it available to the public.

Of the nearly 300,000 tests conducted in that 7 week time period, 30,811 came back positive – more than 10.5%.

While positive diagnoses are still trending slightly upward, overall data is consistent with CDC predictions that infections will begin to plateau in mid-May. However, that does not preclude the possibility of a second spike of infections in Fall, which doctors fear could happen if guidelines about social distancing and face coverings are not followed through Summer.

Data for the weeks following that of April 12 is still being compiled and has not yet been made available by the CDC.