Kentucky Public Health officials are disagreeing with guidelines announced earlier this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that now say asymptomatic people no longer need to get tested for the novel coronavirus.
The revised guidelines, which were posted on Monday, say individuals who have been in close contact with an infected person, usually within six feet and for at least 15 minutes, do not necessarily need a test if they do not have symptoms. The CDC did add that there are exceptions, including vulnerable individuals or healthcare professionals where state or local public health officials may encourage testing for the virus.
Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said Wednesday the new guidelines are perplexing to both him and other health care professionals.
click to download audioThe new guidelines are a change from the CDC’s previous guidelines that recommended testing for all those who came in close contact with an infected patient for more than 15 minutes, even though they were asymptomatic.
Stack says based on where Kentucky is with the COVID-19 virus, all people should continue to get tested.
click to download audioStack did say that CDC guidance also states a person who has tested positive does not need a confirmed negative test to exit quarantine.
click to download audioThe CDC has said pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission as a major factor in the spread of COVID-19, estimating last month that 40-percent of those infected by the virus dont show symptoms.
Governor Andy Beshear weighed in on the CDC guidance. Having encouraged Kentuckians to get tested at a rate of over 7,700 per day in August, Beshear disagrees with the latest change.
click to download audioJust over one-percent of Kentucky’s total population has been infected by the virus since the state’s first case was reported on March 6.
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