The coronavirus instructions from the Center for Disease Control have been confusing since the start of the virus. At first, you didn’t have to wear a mask. Now, one presidential candidate is pushing for a nationwide mask mandate. And then, you have the testing. There are reports that some of the tests are not accurate, that antibody tests can be misleading, and the timeline to reopen the country is constantly changing.
And now, the CDC has once again changed their guidelines over tests. This week, the CDC said that only those who show symptoms should be given a test. After serious backlash from public health leaders, who quoted the new development that asymptomatic carriers of the virus put most people at risk, said this new guideline was dangerous.
But after pressure, Director Robert Redfield said, once again, that even if you don’t show symptoms you could be tested. In a statement, he said, “Testing is meant to drive actions and achieve specific public health objectives. Everyone who needs a COVID-19 test, can get a test. Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test; the key is to engage the needed public health community in the decision with the appropriate follow-up action.”
Why this matters: States have dramatically had different reactions to the coronavirus. And even countries. As the US watches as the world opens up again, many Americans are wondering why the US, the leader of the free world, is so far behind. The flip flopping on guidelines, furthermore, has left many people skeptical about the CDC. The mask mandate, for instance, left Americans in a loop, and has now become a political issue. And now, testing, is going down that same path. While lawmakers try to blame Trump for not being an effective leader during this time, the CDC and other doctors are offering contradictory advice on how Americans should deal with the virus. But worse, is that the economy is still shut down, and there is no end in sight as to when life will be normal again.
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