# Tech Goes Viral **URL:** **By** Alec Stapp, Paul Matzko **Published:** April 2, 2020 --- Technology has eased our transition to the new socially distant world. Technologist Alec Stapp joins the show to discuss why the US lagged weeks behind South Korea in testing for COVID-19. While the failures of the FDA and CDC have been grim, the show does find a silver lining in the crisis, that technology has greatly eased the transition into social distancing for many Americans. How is our internet surviving during this global pandemic? How has the private industry stepped up to the plate to tackle COVID-19? Why was the United States late to the game to test patients for COVID-19? Is the FDA to blame for the lack of U.S. testing? ## Further Reading: [Timeline: The Regulations—and Regulators—That Delayed Coronavirus Testing](https://thedispatch.com/p/timeline-the-regulationsand-regulatorsthat), written by Alec Stapp [The 4 Key Reasons the U.S. Is So Behind on Coronavirus Testing](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/why-coronavirus-testing-us-so-delayed/607954/), written by Olga Khazan [How utility, phone and internet companies are giving consumers a break during coronavirus pandemic](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/16/utility-cable-internet-phone-coronavirus-covid-19/5060084002/), written by Nathan Bomey [Trump adviser outlines cautious approach for reopening economy](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/29/gottlieb-coronavirus-economy-154082), written by Rachel Roubein [Netflix will reduce its European network traffic by 25 percent to manage surge](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/19/21187078/netflix-europe-streaming-european-union-bit-rate-broadband-coronavirus), written by Julia Alexander ## Related Content: [Libertarianism and the Coronavirus Pandemic](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/libertarianism-coronavirus-pandemic), written by Andy Craig W[hat Made the Internet Possible?](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/building-tomorrow/what-made-the-internet-possible), Building Tomorrow Podcast