CDC says no more testing to be conducted in Seattle Hospitals since everybody has it anyway. Endemic

Eric Feigl-Ding
@DrEricDing
“Most batshit bullshit thing I’ve heard all day. WA nursing home is ending all #COVID19 tests claiming that it’s endemic, so just forget it and not try to test and isolate people anymore? Millions of area residents are still at risk, hello?! Brain dead idea”

What Eric doesn’t realize is that “Evergreen Health” is not a nursing home, but is one of the larger Hospital Networks in that area.

https://www.evergreenhealth.com/default.cfm?id=1

“What’s New?

Screening Protocols
The CDC has now categorized COVID-19 as endemic — learn what this means
New Screening Protocols

In partnership with the CDC, we have updated our screening guidelines for COVID-19.

As of March 3, 2020, we have halted performing nasopharyngeal testing in our outpatient clinics, including all five urgent care locations.

Here’s why:

The CDC has determined that COVID-19 is now endemic, meaning that the virus is now considered to be regularly found in our region amongst our population. Previously, only individuals who had previously known risk factors (including history of travel, exposure to a confirmed case), were considered high risk for acquiring the disease.
There is increased risk of transmission when performing any nasopharyngeal testing.”

Is this how they plan on keeping the numbers low?

 

 

h/t xmaddness