Associated Press report.The need to devote personnel and other resources to COVID testing led to a sharp decrease in STD testing in many parts of the U.S., the AP notes. “It’s clear there have been mass disruptions to testing, surveillance, and clinical care, and that’s likely making sexually transmitted infections worse than ever,” David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, told the news service.In the spring of 2020, tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were down by one-third to one-half compared to the previous year, although the numbers went up a bit last summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.