CDC reverses COVID-19 guidance, says testing may not be needed after exposure

[Arkansas Granny]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly tweaked its guidance on COVID-19 testing Monday, making a change that could result in fewer people being tested and hinder contact tracing efforts.

The guidance now states that healthy people who have been exposed to COVID-19 "do not necessarily need a test," as long as they don't have symptoms. That's a reversal from previous advice that clearly recommended testing for all close contacts of infected individuals, regardless of whether they had symptoms.

"It seems as though this new guidance is actively discouraging people from seeking testing, even if they have a known exposure," Angela Rasmussen, a research scientist at Columbia Public Health in New York City, said. "We need more testing, not less."

President Donald Trump has been outspoken about his belief that the United States has the most COVID-19 cases in the world because of the number of tests it carries out.

https://www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1238013?amp_js_v=a3&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fhealth%2Fhealth-news%2Fcdc-reverses-covid-19-guidance-says-testing-may-not-be-n1238013

This sounds like some of Trump's "slow the testing down" gambit. He's willing to risk public health if it makes him look better.

[Cha]

1. yeah, that makes sense..

NOT!

[Karadeniz]

2. Ridiculous...asymptomatic carriers spread the virus. Pathetic that this came from what was a

World class, admired, helpful health organization.

[radius777]

3. The CDC and FDA are now Trump's poodles.

This is why I won't be surprised if the FDA somehow (despite the warnings of the science experts) attempts to fasttrack a vaccine before the election. Trump will do anything to win, and his stooges are more than willing to assist him.

[still_one]

4. This is such bullshit. Well that pretty much clinches it for me, I will be holding off from being

the first in line to get the vaccination until I see what peered reviewed journals such as the NEJM and Nature say

Those heading the CDC and FDA are compromised

[Fullduplexxx]

5. Sounds like it's now the dept of trump

[Klaralven]

6. The section of the revised guidelines --

If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms:

You do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one.

- A negative test does not mean you will not develop an infection from the close contact or contract an infection at a later time.

You should monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should evaluate yourself under the considerations set forth above.

You should strictly adhere to CDC mitigation protocols, especially if you are interacting with a vulnerable individual. You should adhere to CDC guidelines to protect vulnerable individuals with whom you live.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/testing-overview.html

The problem is that if you have been exposed, it will take some time for the virus to incubate and become active enough to show up on a test. If you test right away, the test is likely to be negative, even if you actually have the virus and it will become either an asymptomatic or symptomatic case.

Therefore, the best approach would seem to be to wait in isolated quarantine for a few days, then get the test.

[ecstatic]

7. trump is severely weakening the CDC and FDA. He still doesn't understand

cause and effect.