The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines when it comes to getting tested for the coronavirus.
Tom Hindle lives in Atlantic Beach. On Thursday, he walked into the COVID-19 testing site next to the old Kmart on Atlantic Boulevard to get a test.
Hindle doesn’t have any symptoms but he wanted to be proactive. “I think it’s a great service to provide to us as a free service and I’m amazed that there’s not 20 people standing in line,” Hindle said.
STORY: CDC reverses course on testing, health experts question change
The CDC put out new guidelines this week about getting tested for COVID-19.
Previously, if you came in close contact with someone who tested positive, the CDC recommended getting tested. Now, it’s saying if you come in close contact but you don’t have any symptoms, you don’t necessarily need to get tested.
Those new guidelines have health experts like Dr. Elizabeth Ransom, the executive vice president and chief physician executive of Baptist Health, worried.
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“From my perspective, I think it’s important for everyone still to be aware that asymptomatic transmission is possible. So even if someone doesn’t have symptoms or isn’t exhibiting any signs of COVID, they may still actually have the virus.”
Regardless of the symptoms, the CDC still recommends those with pre-existing health conditions get tested.
Even after hearing about the new testing guidelines, Hindle believes taking a test is the right choice for everyone’s safety.
“I still remember everyone saying that 50% of the people that are passing the disease on to others are asymptomatic so it seems ridiculous not to go get tested, even when you are asymptomatic, because you don’t want to make anyone else sick,” Hindle said.
Health experts told Action News Jax they don’t want people to be confused about when they should be tested.
Doctors told Tarancon the best thing you can do if you have any doubts is to talk to your local health care provider on if you should take a test.
Cox Media Group
