Currently the CDC requires visible COVID-19 symptoms to be considered as a potential carrier of the SARS-COV-2 virus. If anyone doesn’t show “Fever (>100.4) or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath)” within 14 days of exposure then they are presumed safe and sent on their way.
As many patients have minimal symptoms, if we learn that not everyone with SARS-COV-2 (the virus) actually gets COVID-19 (the disease), then every day that this criterion is used, rather than holding people until a working virus test is administered, we are potentially making things much worse. We desperately need working test kits widely available and to not send anyone with possible exposure to airports and malls until a test for the virus has been administered.
