CDC Reverses COVID-19 Testing Guidance Claiming Asymptomatic People Don't Need To Get Tested

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director has clarified a new testing guidance for COVID-19 that drew backlash from health experts last week. After saying earlier that people with COVID-19 exposure do not need to get tested for the virus, Dr. Robert Redfield said on Thursday that anyone who had been exposed to the new coronavirus should be tested to control the pandemic.

In his statement, Dr. Redfield said “all close contacts of confirmed or probably COVID-19 patients” should consider testing. This new COVID-19 testing guidance disputes previous recommendation that not all people exposed to the virus should be tested unless they show symptoms of COVID-19. He also explained that the new guidance was intended to place an emphasis on testing people with symptoms and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

However, the old COVID-19 testing guidelines on the CDC website has not changed despite Dr. Redfield’s statement. Recommendations on the CDC website still suggest that people exposed to the virus “do not necessarily need a test” unless they are symptomatic.

Infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner called out Dr. Redfield on Thursday over the contradictory recommendations, saying that the CDC director seems to be backtracking on COVID-19 testing guidance. Former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden also criticized the CDC for puzzling public health experts.

“I think it is a black eye for the CDC” said Dr. Frieden, who is now president of global public health initiative Resolve to Save Lives. “They’ve got materials on their website that really can’t be scientifically justified.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, claimed he was undergoing surgery when the guidelines were approved last week. His statement contradicted Assistant Health Secretary Brett Grioir, who said the COVID-19 task force had approved the final version of the guidelines prior to release.

“Everyone who needs a COVID-19 test can get a test,” said Dr. Fauci. Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test,” he added.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that the CDC guidelines would not be adopted in California. In a joint statement, the governors of Connecticut and New Jersey also described the guidelines as “reckless,” saying they would continue to follow the advice of health experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and would not change their guidance that prioritizes testing for asymptomatic individuals.