Prognosis
Trump Test Chief Defends New CDC Guidelines After Blowback
- New CDC guidance says asymptomatic people may not need tests
- Public-health expert says the shift runs counter to evidence
Photographer: Eve Edelheit/Bloomberg
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s shift in guidance on Covid-19 testing away from asymptomatic individuals this week alarmed many public-health experts who say it’s a wrong turn that could restrict how many tests are performed.
Brett Giroir, a top Trump administration official overseeing coronavirus testing, fired back on the criticism during a Wednesday briefing, telling reporters that the change wasn’t influenced by the White House and is intended to clarify to the public the limitations of such screenings, not to reduce how many tests are conducted.