“This Change In Policy Will Kill,” “Make Things Worse,” “Wrong Direction,” “Indefensible,” “CDC Brand Is Toast”
Today, the CDC announced a major shift in testing recommendations, scaling back guidelines to no longer include testing for asymptomatic individuals. In a move widely rejected by experts, doctors, and former CDC officials, the guidance from the CDC lacks any scientific backing and reportedly came “from the top down.”
The shocking announcement provides even more evidence that Trump is employing tactics to bully independent agencies into toeing the party line in order to distract from the deadly effects of his botched pandemic response.
Here’s what experts are saying:
Alison Galvani, Director Of The Center For Infectious Disease Modeling And Analysis (Cidma), Burnett And Stender Families’ Professor Of Epidemiology, Yale University: “This Change In Policy Will Kill.”
- “The CDC just revised their testing guidance to exclude people without symptoms. Our work on the ‘silent’ spread underscores the importance of testing people who have been exposed to #COVID-19 regardless of symptoms. This change in policy will kill.” [Twitter, @Alison_Galvani, 08/26/20]
Dr. Krutika Kuppalli: “This Is Going To Make Things Worse.”
- “‘This is potentially dangerous,’ said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician in Palo Alto, Calif. Restricting testing to only people with obvious symptoms of Covid-19 means ‘you’re not looking for a lot of people who are potential spreaders of disease,’ she added. ‘I feel like this is going to make things worse.’” [New York Times, 08/26/20]
Daniel Larremore, Infectious Disease Modeler At The University Of Colorado – Boulder: “Any Move Right Now To Reduce Levels Of Testing By Changing Guidelines Is A Step In The Wrong Direction.”
- “‘I think it’s bizarre,’ said Daniel Larremore, a mathematician and infectious diseases modeler at the University of Colorado Boulder. ‘Any move right now to reduce levels of testing by changing guidelines is a step in the wrong direction.’” [New York Times, 08/26/20]
Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden Stated That The CDC Directive To No Longer Test Asymptomatic Individuals Was “Probably Indefensible.”
- “Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the CDC under President Barack Obama, said on Twitter that the change is ‘probably indefensible’ and was ‘likely imposed on CDC’s website.’” [CNBC, 8/26/20]
Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director Will Humble: “The CDC Brand Is Toast.”
- “Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, called the change ‘bizarre.’ ‘Testing contacts is a core part of contact tracing!’ he said on Twitter. ‘50% of transmission happens before symptoms occur & you make this policy decision? The CDC brand is toast.’” [CNBC, 8/26/20]
Dr. Michael Mina, A Professor Of Epidemiology At Harvard’s School Of Public Health: “It’s Absolutely Critical That We Continue To Know Who Is Spreading [The] Virus.”
- “Dr. Michael Mina, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard’s School of Public Health, said it’s critical to test people who don’t have symptoms for Covid-19 to help guide a targeted U.S. response. ‘It’s absolutely crucial that we continue to know who is spreading [the] virus and that is largely due to asymptomatic individuals or at least there is a large fraction of spread that is asymptomatic,’ he said. ‘That makes the new guidance frustrating, to say the least.’” [CNBC, 8/26/20]
Susan Butler-Wu, A Clinical Microbiologist At The University Of California’s Keck School Of Medicine: “We’re In The Middle Of A Pandemic, And That’s A Really Big Change.”
- “‘Wow, that is a walk-back,’ said Susan Butler-Wu, a clinical microbiologist at the University of California’s Keck School of Medicine. ‘We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and that’s a really big change.’ Dr. Butler-Wu said she’s concerned that the guidelines would be misinterpreted as implying that people without symptoms were unable to pass the coronavirus to others — a falsehood that experts have been trying for months to dispel.” [New York Times, 08/26/20]
John Auerbach, President Of Trust For America’s Health, Former Associate Director At The CDC: “The Recommendation Not To Test Asymptomatic People Who Likely Have Been Exposed Is Not In Accord With The Science.”
- “Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people — the CDC has said as many as 40% — exhibit no symptoms. ‘I was taken aback and didn’t know that it was under consideration,’ said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease. ‘The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science.’ Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said.” [KY3, 08/26/20]
Dr. Carlos Del Rio, Infectious Disease Specialist And Associate Dean Of Emory University School Of Medicine: “…The Guidelines Baffle Me And I Really Don’t Understand Them”:
- “‘I mean, the evidence that I’m aware of as of today is that close to 40% of the cases of the infections are asymptomatic and asymptomatic people transmit the infection,’ Del Rio said. ‘So, not testing — I mean, if you have been in contact with somebody for a few minutes, that’s okay. But if you have been in contact for 50 minutes and that people doesn’t have a mask, I think you need to be tested regardless if you have symptoms or not. We know especially young people going into the house and then transmit inside the household. So, the guidelines baffle me and I really don’t understand them.’” [CNN, 08/26/20]