In an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus by people who may be asymptomatic, federal health authorities plan to “test” the virus for younger people.
© Kevin Dietsch-Pool / Getty
Admiral Brett Giroir said Wednesday that the US Department of Health and Human Services was coordinating with three state governments to initiate tests for coronavirus in young people who may be spreading the virus asymptomatically.
So far, the plans involve the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. All three states have seen recent increases in positive cases of the virus since the companies’ gradual reopening. The governors of each state have expressed concern about the transmission of the virus by people under the age of 35.
“The strategy would be to scale up the test,” US Department of Health and Human Services deputy health secretary Admiral Brett Giroir told reporters on Wednesday. “You would do the number of tests you do in a month in just a few days to try to make sure we identify these symptoms and manage them better.”
Giroir also confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the health departments in each state. The communities in which the augmented tests are expected to be performed were not mentioned by name.
Newsweek he contacted the Florida Department of Health, the Louisiana Department of Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services for comment. This story will be updated with any responses.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Sunday that coronavirus cases in his state were on the rise due to youth social interaction.
“You can’t control it, they’re younger people,” said DeSantis. “They are going to do what they are going to do.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Florida hit a one-day record of 9,585 positive cases reported Saturday. Overall, Florida has reported 158,997 positive cases of the virus. In June, Florida banned bars from serving alcohol on-site, although restaurants can continue to serve drinks to their customers in an effort to curb new cases of the virus.
DeSantis was adamant Tuesday that Florida would not pause its reopening strategies because people going to businesses were not driving the surge in virus cases. “I think when you see younger people, I think a lot of them are more just social interactions, so it’s natural,” DeSantis told reporters.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the closing of bars in his state in June about a month after he allowed the establishments to operate at 50 percent of capacity. New cases of coronavirus emerged after the bars reopened. 7,722 new positive cases of COVID-19 were marked Wednesday in the state, bringing the total for Texas to 174,991.
“As I said from the beginning,” Abbott said in a June statement, “if the positivity rate were to rise above 10 percent, the State of Texas would take further steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
“Right now,” Abbott continued, “it’s clear that the increase in cases is largely due to certain types of activities, including Texans who congregate in bars.”
In response to Abbott’s executive order, more than 30 Texas bar owners filed a lawsuit against Abbott alleging that his actions violated the state constitution.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order in June extending the state’s time on Phase Two of its reopening strategies. Although the order did not change the occupation restrictions, the state is expected to remain in the second phase until July.
In a June statement, Edwards said people between the ages of 18 and 29 accounted for the largest number of new cases. “While you may think you are invincible,” Edwards wrote, “you are not.”
Louisiana reported 2,083 new cases of the virus Wednesday, representing 60,178 the total number of positive coronavirus cases statewide.
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive Newsweek stories in your email
Video: Fewer deaths in 3 states during coronavirus shutdowns, study finds (KCRA Sacramento)
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Keep reading
