Credit Governor Tom Wolfe (CC BY)
Up to now, the Department of Health and Senior Services has allowed only symptomatic close contacts of a suspected COVID-19 patient or a lab-confirmed patient and symptomatic healthcare workers and first responders to be tested, according to a news release.
DHSS has now approved state testing for symptomatic residents of congregate living facilities whose residents are at higher risk for poor outcomes; symptomatic hospitalized patients who have symptoms compatible with COVID-19; and symptomatic patients who are at high risk for negative health outcomes from the illness.
Those who don’t meet those criteria can still be tested through private laboratories.
Copyright 2020 KSMU