I think you are onto something with that thought. I am extremely dubious of any coronavirus test. Does having traces of the virus mean you have an active infection? What is the test? Some form of PCR? How many false positives or negatives are there? If the virus is some form of the "common cold" how many people could get caught up in a panic over testing?
If Trump and team play along with this nonsense to a point they could defintely use the situation for a massive purge of bad actors.