White House outlines testing blueprint to spur nation’s re-opening; CDC updates criteria

The Trump administration Monday put forward a series of guidelines for testing and rapid response programs in anticipation of reopening the nation’s economy.

The effort is meant to be a partnership between federal, state, local and tribal governments and the private sector. The federal government will support state-based efforts by expanding the number of testing platforms, increasing testing and laboratory supplies and capacity, and enhancing sample collection.

As part of the effort, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its evaluation and laboratory testing criteria, stating that “increasing testing capacity will allow clinicians to consider COVID-19 testing for a wider group of symptomatic patients and persons without symptoms in certain situations.”

The following remain high priorities for COVID-19 testing:

• hospitalized patients;
• health care facility workers, workers in congregate living settings and first responders with symptoms;
• residents in long-term care facilities or other congregate living settings, including prisons and shelters, with symptoms; and
• individuals identified through public health cluster and selected contact investigations.

A second, priority tier was established for individuals with symptoms for potential COVID-19 infection, along with those who are without symptoms who are prioritized by health departments and clinicians based on state and local plans