It’s time to multiply: campaign to test for COVID-19

The Universidad de los Andes has a new project: Covida, which will seek to gather the highest number of COVID-19 tests possible. This is to better understand the variables relating to the spread of the epidemic so better decisions can be made to deal with this crisis.

To achieve these goals, it is necessary to work from several different angles. A laboratory was set up to detect the virus. This laboratory, run by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creativity, is authorized and certified by the District Health Secretariat and the National Health Institute.



Additionally, a study of 100,000 tests for the virus is being undertaken together with the District Health Secretariat of Bogotá, the Fundación Santa Fé, and the Universidad Nacional, which is endeavoring to identify the groups that are most at risk of being carriers and sources of infection.

The President, Alejandro Gaviria, says that “The university is doing what it should do from an academic point of view: using scientific knowledge for everyone’s benefit. We are carrying out an epidemiological surveillance project, which complements what the State is doing, and will shed light on what is to come.”


 

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This project intends to expand the testing capacity for Bogotá and compliment what the District Health Secretariat of Bogotá is doing. The objective is to generate useful information to support the local and national authorities in creating public policies, which will allow us to transition to post-quarantine, reduce the virus’s spread, and save lives.

Silvia Restrepo, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Creativity affirms that “With the increase in the number of tests, we will have more real data about the rate of infection, and this will allow us to take more real data from epidemiological variables including the infection rate and the traceability of the epidemic”.

To date, the Genome Sequencing Lab at the Universidad de los Andes has processed close to eleven thousand tests, the results of which have been sent to the relevant authorities.



To successfully implement this great project, the “The time has come to multiply: #LaPruebaEsDeTodos”, campaign was launched, which seeks to collect funds through donations and companies that support the cause. This will enable its effective completion and means it will be able to achieve greater scope with the study.

Eduardo Behrentz, Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni states that, “Given the universe of 100,000 samples, we need to collect funds to finance this initiative. The university has already made a significant contribution, but we need everyone’s help for a greater impact on society.” For more information and donations, go to lapruebaesdetodos.com.