- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month published a controversial guideline that people who were exposed to the novel coronavirus but did not show symptoms should not be tested.
- According to The New York Times, the advice was written by Trump administration officials and published despite the objections of scientists.
- The memo was written by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and published on the CDC’s website, ignoring the CDC’s scientific review process, the report said.
- The publication of the guide raised concerns of political interference in the CDC, with President Donald Trump seeking to blame higher coronavirus infection rates in the trial.
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A controversial guideline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that discourages people from taking coronavirus tests in certain situations was written by Trump administration officials and published despite the objections of scientists, The New York Times reported Thursday.
Guidance, published on the CDC’s website on August 24, said people who were exposed to the novel coronavirus but did not show symptoms should not be tested.
According to the Times, the advice was written by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and was published despite objections from CDC doctors and scientists. The Times cited several sources close to the matter in addition to documents.
Referring to the White House coronavirus task force led by Vice President Mike Pence, a federal official familiar with the matter told the Times: “It was a dossier that came from above, from the HHS and the task force.”
The official added, “It does not reflect the policy that many people in the CDC should have a policy.”
An unnamed federal health official also published a guide to CNN when the advice was “coming down from above.” The White House Coronavirus Task Force’s top infectious disease officer, Dr. Anthony Fawcett also said he was in surgery when the task force discussed approving new guidance.
Prior to the 24 August 24 guidelines, the CDC advocated comprehensive testing to identify clusters of infections, even for those who did not have symptoms of the disease but were exposed to potential sources of infection.
Promoting allegations contrary to political interference, President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely sought to blame increased testing for a high number of coronavirus cases in the US.
At the time, the agency denied that the consultation was done due to interference from administrative officials.
But Thursday’s report said the consultant was in fact written by HHS officials and then published on the CDC’s website, which hampered the CDC’s scientific review process.
Typically, CDC advisors are signed by 12 to 20 people, including doctors and scientists, before they are published, the Times said.
Brett Giroire, HHS’s assistant secretary for health, told a news conference at the same time the CDC guide was published: “We need proper testing, not less testing … we need more asymptomatic testing where it is needed. And hopefully less. Where it is not needed. “
In a statement to Reuters on Friday, CDC Director Robert Redfield said the test was advised after receiving input from experts from the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Redfield said the guidelines, coordinated with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, have received appropriate attention, consultation and input from task force experts.
Neither CDC nor HHS immediately responded to Business Insider’s request for comment.
