The spread of the Omicron variant has led experts to suggest that partygoers take a rapid test to check for COVID-19 closer to the event.
Early data from the UK indicates that people who catch the new Omicron variant become infectious much quicker than those with Delta. Experts warned that testing too early could allow for missed cases.
The Omicron variant, which has 32 different genes, is spreading fast in South Africa and the UK, possibly because it helps it escape the immune response from previous infections and existing vaccines. We don't know if Omicron will be more deadly than Delta, which is the most common variant worldwide.
One or two days before an event doesn't work according to Michael Mina, a former assistant professor in immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard School of Public Health.
He said that the most important thing was to test just before the event. He said that you can go from "undetectable" to a "very high" number of virus particles in 24 hours.
The "transmission time" for Omicron was very short, according to a professor at King's College London. He told the Guardian Sunday that people should take a rapid test a few hours before leaving the house and wear a high quality mask if using crowded public transport.
According to data from the app, the time it took for the infection to occur was around 48 hours. He said rapid tests should be taken less than 12 hours before an event.
"If you want to avoid large gatherings and get everyone to test that day, split your groups up into smaller ones where you can control the environment and get everyone to test that day," said Spector, adding that people should also check no-one in attendance has had cold-like symptoms in
A user of the ZOE app attended a 60th birthday party in the UK where all guests werevaccinated, some received boosters, and all tested negative on rapid tests 24 hours before, according to a statement by the author. 16 people caught Omicron that caused mild symptoms after the event.
People can use a rapid test regardless of their vaccine status, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A negative self-test result means that the test did not detect the virus, but it does not rule out the possibility of an infection. If you repeat the test within a few days, you will increase the confidence that you are free of the disease.
