Unreliable? Some Tests Get Go-Ahead Without FDA Approval
Public health officials disapprove, arguing the HHS decision to lower the bar will lead to the use of flawed tests. News is on saliva tests, farm worker tests, and more.
Politico:
Trump Administration Limits FDA Review Of Some Coronavirus Tests
The Trump administration will allow coronavirus tests developed by individual laboratories — including commercial facilities run by Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp — to be used without an FDA review, a decision that public health experts warn could lead to broad use of flawed tests. The Department of Health and Human Services outlined the decision in a notice published Wednesday. (Lim and Brennan, 8/19)
Crain's Chicago Business:
University Of Illinois COVID Test Gets Emergency FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization of the saliva-based COVID-19 test developed and now in use at the University of Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced today during a press conference updating the latest developments in the state's pandemic response.“Expanding our breakthrough, saliva-based testing will be a real game-changer, providing fast and efficient results that will protect lives and livelihoods,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said today. (Asplund, 8/19)
In news from Washington and Hawaii —
AP:
Inslee Orders More COVID-19 Testing For Farm Workers
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday updated his coronavirus proclamation so that it requires agricultural employers to test their workforce broadly when health officials identify an outbreak that passes certain thresholds. Since the governor first issued his proclamation on May 28, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Washington has increased from 21,138 to 67,721, an average of more than 500 new cases per day. (8/19)
AP:
Hawaii Governor Blames Virus Spike For Tracer Shortage
Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday blamed a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases for the state falling short when it comes to tracing the contacts of people with the disease. Ige spoke at a news conference at the Hawaii Convention Center where the state Department of Health has started using empty meeting space to host an expanded team of contact tracers. (McAvoy, 8/20)
In other testing and tracing developments —
Kaiser Health News:
Scam Alert: Things A COVID Contact Tracer Wouldn’t Say
State officials and federal agencies warn there’s a new phone scam circulating: Some callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers try to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims. The grifters apparently are taking advantage of a genuine public health intervention that’s crucial to stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus: contact tracing. (Appleby, 8/20)
Politico:
Contact Tracing Apps Have Been A Bust. States Bet College Kids Can Change That
Colleges across the country are testing contact-tracing apps, hoping that tech-savvy students already accustomed to sharing so much of their life online will embrace the digital tool as densely populated campuses try to reopen. The tracing apps, announced with much fanfare early in the coronavirus pandemic, haven’t yet been in widespread use because of bureaucratic hurdles, early tech hiccups and public apprehension about privacy risks. But the contained environment of college campuses may be the ideal testing ground to boost lagging digital efforts to trace infections, say state officials and public health experts behind this push. (Ravindranath and Eisenberg, 8/19)
