Like most states, Virginia has increased its testing for COVID-19 to better track the virus and prepare the state for reopening. But the data Virginia officials have compiled cannot be trusted.

According to the Atlantic, Virginia has been combining the data from two different types of COVID-19 tests. One is the standard viral test (most commonly given to people with COVID-19 symptoms), and the other tests for antibodies. These tests offer very different answers to very different questions. The viral test reveals who has the coronavirus right now, and hence who can spread it. The antibody test, on the other hand, reveals who has had it in the past. It is still not clear whether individuals with COVID-19 antibodies can spread the virus, but most health officials think that’s unlikely.