Before revision: We argue that random testing (polling the fraction of infected people in the population) is central to managing the COVID-19 pandemic because it both measures  the key variable controlled by restrictive measures, and anticipates the load on the healthcare system via the progression of the disease.
After revision: We argue that frequent sampling of the fraction of infected people in the population) is central to managing the COVID-19 pandemic because it both measures the key variable controlled by restrictive measures, and anticipates the load on the healthcare system via the progression of the disease.