CDC 'took FOUR DAYS to test coronavirus patient with unknown origin' because she 'didn't fit infection criteria' - as dozens of staff at the California hospital are ordered to isolate and experts fear the disease could explode quickly like it did in Italy

The Daily Mail (UK) ^ | February 27th, 2020 | By Valerie Edwards

[Mariner]

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took four days to test a woman with the first confirmed case of coronavirus where the origin of the disease is unknown because she hadn't traveled abroad or been exposed to an infected patient as experts warn the deadly virus could spread quickly in the US like it did in Italy.

The woman, who is a resident of Solano County, which is about 35 miles outside of Sacramento, was admitted into UC Davis Medical Center on February 19.

But questions are now being asked over the CDC's handling of the case after an email from medical center officials to employees revealed that the CDC took four days to test the patient for the deadly disease despite requests from staff at the center.

The leaked memo also suggested medical center staff may have been unnecessarily put at risk after dozens were told to go into isolation and watch for symptoms. According to the email, the CDC didn't test the patient, who has not been identified, for coronavirus until February 23.

It has also been revealed that experts like Dr Adrian Hyzler, the chief medical officer for Healix International, believe the virus could spread in the US overnight like it did in Italy.

'It spreads very rapidly because of the ease with which you can pass on this virus through respiratory droplets and surface spread,' Hyzler told The Daily Beast.

'There is every possibility that this could happen in the US,' Hyzler said, referring to the outbreaks in Iran and Italy.

Hyzler then pointed to a place like New York City where the coronavirus 'would spread very rapidly on a crowded subway or metro system'.

[grey_whiskers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTmfwklFM-M

[Mariner]

CDC has been irresponsible and incompetent, at least.

It’s almost as if they don’t want to find the infected or stop the spread.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I get a bit ticked when I read this “FOUR DAYS” crap. Test kits are in short supply. They are not highly accurate. They have to be used on the most likely cases. If she didn’t fit the infection criteria then why would they test her?

[Mariner]

Every other country in the world has a cheap and accurate test kit.

The problem is the US CDC not putting a cheap and reliable kit in the hands of any doc who wants them.

That is why they are rationing tests. Because they are incompetent.

The problem is NOT that somebody doesn’t meet a false criteria designed around a rationed test.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I find it very hard to believe the rest of the world has cheap, plentiful, fast and accurate test kits.

We’ve read the current CDC tests are not accurate, either. There isn’t much information about the tests, reagents, supply of those reagents, their accuracy, etc. All we here is “test kit” and samples are going to CDC for analysis.

[Mariner]

“I find it very hard to believe the rest of the world has cheap, plentiful, fast and accurate test kits.”

South Korea has drive thru testing stations.

And several US firms have encouraged the CDC to adopt their tests at less the $100 per.

CDC admits their field test is faulty.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I had not heard of the SK drive-through testing stations. Takes 5 to 10 minutes. Drivers get results in two days and are asked to self-quarantine until results come back. Haven't found anything about how they are testing other than temperature in the ear canal. Mouth swabs? Blood?

Some articles say the testing sites are in parking lots. Others say they have set up the "pods" shown below (which is obviously a parking lot).

Broad testing of everybody is a lot different than testing of those with some symptoms.

[Mariner]

“Broad testing of everybody is a lot different than testing of those with some symptoms. “

The US CDC criteria is pneumonia, known exposure to somebody who has been to China and is sick.

Every health professional in the world thinks that’s ridiculous.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I saw the CDC assessment flow chart this morning. Your criteria are right. And when a state or local health authority wants testing, they have to get CDC to agree to it rather than making the decision at the local level. That is ridiculous, too.