ALBANY – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reversed its COVID-19 testing guidelines and now says that testing for the virus may not be necessary.
The change in guidance, while voluntary, could dramatically decrease the number of tests conducted in the U.S. at a time when public health officials have said they are seriously concerned about young people without symptoms transmitting the virus.
The announcement drew a rapid response from NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Murphy, and Connecticut Governor Lamont. The three leaders issued a statement calling the decision “reckless”.
“The CDC has been a consistent, credible, and reliable guide for our nation for decades, providing clear and science-based guidance on everything from infectious disease to vaccines. That role is vital to our collective public health and it must continue. This 180-degree reversal of COVID-19 testing guidelines is reckless, and not based on science and has the potential to do long-term damage to the institution’s reputation,” said the governors., adding “New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will continue to follow the advice of health experts to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19, and therefore will not be changing our guidance that prioritizes testing for this population.”
