CDC Changes Guidelines, COVID-19 Exposure May Not Need Testing

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is coming under scrutiny after quietly changing its guidelines on coronavirus testing. The New York Times reports that this past Monday, the agency's online testing guidelines were modified to read that those who have been exposed to COVID-19 need not be tested for the virus if they are not showing symptoms. The outlet also notes that about half of transmissions are traced back to pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals. “This is potentially dangerous,” says infectious disease specialist Krutika Kuppalli. “I feel like this is going to make things worse.” That fear was echoed Wednesday on CNN by George Washington University public health professor Leana Wen, who said, "These are exactly the people who should be tested." The CDC website previously stated, "Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested."