The American Nurses Association expressed concern about new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that say people exposed to COVID-19 don’t necessarily need to be tested if they aren’t showing symptoms.
It cited a recent study in the Journal of American Medicine that found up to 40% of asymptomatic patients had viral loads similar to those patients with symptoms.
“Providing new guidance that does not align with the needs of the public health emergency thwarts our efforts with providing safe patient care, protecting nurses, health care professionals and the communities we serve,” the association said in a statement. “We urge the CDC to provide an evidence-informed rationale for the change in guidelines and absent that, to maintain its original guidance.”
The new CDC guidelines were for people who had been within six feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes but don’t have symptoms. They “do not necessarily need a test” unless they start showing symptoms, the CDC said.
