CLEVELAND — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reversing course with its revised guidelines regarding coronavirus and testing. The CDC has now revised that guidance online and says that getting tested, even if exposed to the coronavirus, may not always be needed.
Guidance previously on the agency's website until this week recommended tests for "all close contacts" of people who test positive for COVID-19.
Here's what the website said previously: "Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested."
On Monday, the agency updated its website which now states close contacts who have been exposed to COVID-19 but are not exhibiting symptoms "do not necessarily need a test."
The guidance does still recommend "vulnerable" close contacts get tested after potential exposure. It also notes people may be asked to get tested by a person's health-care providers, or local or state public health officials.
Dr. Claudia Hoyen of University Hospitals says she was surprised when the guidelines were updated.
"Yeah, I didn't see this one coming to be honest with you," she said. "I think it would have been more helpful for them to emphasize that anyone who is exposed regardless of whether or not you've had a test, you need to quarantine."
However, Hoyen believes we should be testing more people every day.
"We do need more tests, we should be testing many more people every day for many other types of exposures. So, I don't know if this is somewhat related to the fact that we don't have enough tests."
According to Cleveland Clinic Dr. Gary Procop, the clinic hasn't been testing those who've been exposed with no symptoms, in most cases.
"We were ahead of the game, as usual," said Procop. "At the Clinic we have not been testing people who were just exposed. This is a strategy that can be taken but it has to be done with appropriate mitigation strategies. You really need a plan."
Procop says testing is just a tool in the fight against coronavirus.
"One of the issues that has not been addressed is if you test people who don't look like they have the disease, you have a higher number of false positives," he explained. "Do they really have disease or are they governor Dewine's? With a false positive."
According to HHS officials, the updated guidance came out of meetings with the White House coronavirus task force.
HHS officials offered little explanation, apart from a scheduled briefing on Wednesday to answer questions.
Some experts quickly criticized the change, noting the role that asymptomatic people are believed to play in spreading COVID-19.