Lack of Testing for Covid-19 in the USA

I just read (2/23/2020) a series of tweets by an MD that claims he is in charge of virology testing at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital in Boston. He appears legit to me.

There are @ 100 labs in the US capable of testing for Covid (including his) but only 3 are currently doing so. (Another source claims 4).

Ten days ago the CDC called back Covid testing supplies and will not share why. Nor when improved supplies will become available.

Currently only travelers from China, those in quarantine or contacts with known cases are being tested by CDC for Covid. This means that cases from other countries and transmission within the USA are being missed.

He is concerned that community based Covid contagion may be in the US today but is simply not being tested, quarantined or contact traced.

I am concerned too. If 100 labs start testing in a few days, hundreds or thousands of Covid cases may quickly appear in the USA.

2/25/2020 Update - CDC says that six US labs will start testing for Covid-19 "this week". Delays were due to issues with one of three reagents being used in the CDC test.

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