The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today credited universal testing of residents and staff of all 123 West Virginia nursing homes for SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of symptoms, as a key factor for limiting COVID-19 transmissions and reducing the pandemic’s impact on the state’s vulnerable populations.

West Virginia conducted universal testing from April 21 to May 8, during which the state identified eight outbreaks with 17 staff members and five residents, some who were asymptotic.

“The testing likely prevented the occurrence of ongoing transmission and larger outbreaks, had the asymptomatic infections gone undetected,” reported the CDC.

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