US CDC announces reversal of controversial change in COVID-19 testing advice

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has anunced reversal of controversial change in its COVID-19 testing guidelines which didn’t mandate testing for asymptomatic persons. latest revision in guidelines reinforces need to test asymptomatic persons due to high-risk of transmission.

“Due to significance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, this guidance furr reinforces need to test asymptomatic persons, including close contacts of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection,” re latest guidelines on “overview of testing”.

controversial CDC guidelines were published on August 24 which said that people who h been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient “do t necessarily need a test” if y do t display symptoms. anuncement was reportedly me after pressure from higher echelons of Trump ministration and after deliberations which took place in absence of White House coronavirus task force member Dr Anthony Fauci. However, a majority of states refused order and continued to test asymptomatic people.

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Health experts welcome reversal

Health experts have welcomed “return to a science-based based approach” after latest revisions in COVID-19 testing guidelines. Thomas File, president of Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement that revisions in testing guidance are good news for public health and for united fight against this pandemic.

“We urge officials to support work of controlling this pandemic by following medical guidance of experts in field,” said File.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that coronavirus cases in United States are highest in world because of greater testing, in an attempt to wash his hands of failed COVID-19 response. United States has reported over 6.7 million coronavirus cases and more than 198,000 related deaths so far, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. With presidential elections approaching, critics suggested that controversial change was an attempt to record lesser coronavirus cases with curbing scope of testing.

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