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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has once again updated guidelines for testing people who do not have symptoms of the coronavirus.
The new language reverses controversial changes made to the site last month. Once again, it emphasizes that anyone who has been in contact with an infected person should be tested for the coronavirus.
“Due to the importance of asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission, this guide further reinforces the need to evaluate asymptomatic people, including close contacts of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, ”he says.
“Testing is recommended for all close contacts of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to the potential for asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection are quickly identified and tested. , “the site now says.
“Viral testing is recommended to diagnose acute infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, to guide contact tracing, treatment options, and isolation requirements,” the site now says.
The guide notes that even if people have no symptoms, they still need a test if they have been in close contact, such as within 6 feet, of a person with coronavirus infection for at least 15 minutes.
“In areas where there are a small number of new cases and limited spread, your public health department may request that a small number of asymptomatic ‘healthy people’ be tested,” the guide says. “If there is a significant spread of the virus in your community, your public health department may request that a significant number of asymptomatic ‘healthy people’ be tested to help stop the spread of the virus.”
On August 24, the CDC site was changed to read: “If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes, but have no symptoms, You do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable person or your healthcare provider or state or local public health officials recommend that you have one.
The measure was strongly criticized by doctors and health agencies.
Two sources told CNN that the August change was submitted to the CDC by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And it was supposed to go through an investigative process that includes a science director, fact-checking, cross-checking, and various exchanges for scientific review, a process that can take several days. While the document was going through the process, one of the sources told CNN that they woke up one morning to see that the unaltered document had been posted on the CDC website in its original form and included some errors.
In a statement Thursday night, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told CNN: “The guidelines, coordinated in conjunction with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, received the attention, the consultation and appropriate input from group experts. “
