Here is how the CDC guidelines have changed for people who want to get tested.
COVID-19 testing is being done more rigorously and many guidelines have been tweaked according to the severity of the situation across countries. Many people were unable to get tested in the first few months and the priority testing guidelines said that people who have come in contact with an infected person can get tested.
CDC (American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has again changed its guidelines and suggested that people who have not developed any symptoms after coming in contact with a COVID-19 patient can skip the test.
These guidelines are completely opposite to the ones suggested in the beginning as previously, people who have come in contact were recommended to get tested, even if they had not developed symptoms.
While many countries are scaling up the testing, CDC guidelines have confused people as it is one of the most trusted sources of information during this time. This suggestion may lead to delay in tracing the chain of infection and more people are likely to get infected if they are unaware of being COVID-19 positive due to no appearance of symptoms.
It is important to understand that getting tested too early isn’t going to help either. The poorly timed test can result in misleading results and can increase the risk of infection.
The best way to deal with this is by isolating yourself for a few days and getting tested a few days after. Make sure to maintain 6 feet distance from people and sanitize your hands as soon as you come home.
