Agencies update COVID-19 testing guidance

Aug 27, 2020 - 02:34 PM
cdc-update

People who have been within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms do not need to get a COVID-19 diagnostic test unless they are “a vulnerable individual” or their health care provider or public health officials recommend it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday in updated guidance.

People in a high COVID-19 transmission area who attend a gathering of more than 10 people without widespread mask wearing or physical distancing also do not need a test unless they are vulnerable or their provider or public health officials recommend one, but they should monitor for symptoms and adhere to mitigation protocols, CDC said.

In other testing news, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released guidance to survey agencies on its new COVID-19 testing requirements for nursing homes and clinical laboratories, included this week in an interim final rule setting forth new COVID-19-related requirements for hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories and others. For more on the requirements, see the Aug. 26 AHA Special Bulletin.

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