Change in CDC definition of cases of COVID 19

[Ms. Toad]

The CDC changed its guidance for diagnosis of a case (which will increase the number of cases counted. I can't find the info directly from the CDC, but here is Dr. Acton explaining it. Dr. Acton starts at 29:48. Her discussion of the changes starts at 33:00 (I've queued up the video to that point). If you don't mind listening to DeWine, he articulates it more clearly (because he is reading it from the guidelines). He talks about it from 8:00 to 15:56.

&feature=youtu.be

Here's a summary:

Until today, you had to test positive on a PCR test to be included in the cases.

Starting today, cases reported to the CDC (by their request) will include two new groups:

(1) anyone who tests positive on any of the new tests (including quick antibody tests (which identify prior disease),
(2) clinical evidence +epidemiological evidence (e.g. nursing homes were there was a positive test in someone else) and no other likely explanation for the symptoms (even if there is never a labtest).

The new tests are not readily available yet, but will increasingly be adding new cases. In Ohio for today, category 1 made a difference of 17 cases (not all new today), and category 2 seems to have made a difference of 25 cases.

In addition, it appears 4 deaths have been re-classified as COVID 19.

This is the kind of change that creates a significant (temporary) spike in cases in China - so I would expect to see significant increases as the states update their definitions.

I'll try to track down the formal recommendation.

ETA: This is as close as I've gotten - and it is still from the Ohio press conference:

New CDC Coronavirus Statistics
Governor DeWine opened his media availability on Friday speaking about a new way the state will report COVID-19 statistics. The new form data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The state will report data in more detail than the new guidance requires. On April 5th, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) put forth new case surveillance recommendations.

The CSTE is a national organization made up of member states and territories, representing public health epidemiologists or the scientists who study infectious diseases and their spread.

The CSTE provides technical guidance and assistance to states and to the federal partners, such as the CDC. The CDC recommends the state follow the new guidelines. Both sets of data will be posted on Ohio’s coronavirus website.

The new data will include cases that meet the following criteria:

* Quick Tests: These are the rapid tests that will soon be coming to Ohio. Doctors will simply be able to prick a patient’s finger, check their blood for antibodies and have a result in minutes. DeWine says these tests were not reported under the new guidelines
* A person will be counted if there is clinical evidence or epidemiological evidence of the presence of COVID-19.
* A person will be counted in this new total when there is no other likely diagnosis for COVID-19 even if there was no laboratory test.

DeWine says the figures from the original method will be reported, then the new method will be reported separately then the two methods will be combined.

https://www.mix941.com/friday-update-new-coronavirus-data-from-cdc-three-more-dead-in-stark-county/ (I'm pretty sure the last two work together - i.e. epidemiological and clinical, in the absence of another likely diagnosis - but I didn't want to alter the quoted)

https://www.mix941.com/friday-update-new-coronavirus-data-from-cdc-three-more-dead-in-stark-county/

[SheltieLover]

1. TY!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Thank you for this important information, Ms. Toad!

I think this change will help us understand much more clearly just what is going on with this virus.

K&R

[Ms. Toad]

3. It's a relatively small step in the right direction until we get more tests

But I'm glad for progress.

I just wish the CDC was as transparent about this as Ohio. I've spent about a half an hour between yesterday (when I heard the change was coming) and today when it was formally announced trying to find a formal statement.