Technical comment on The impact of population-wide rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in Slovakia

Abstract

Pavelka et al. (Science, Reports, 7 May 2021) claim that a single round of population-wide antigen testing in Slovakia reduced the observed COVID-19 prevalence by 58%, and that it played a substantial role in curbing the pandemic. We argue that this estimate, which is based on incorrect assumptions, is exaggerated, and that the relief was short-lived with little effect on mitigating the pandemic.