The nation’s 2nd largest municipal health system has told its staff that it is essentially abandoning hope of containing the coronavirus and instructed doctors not to test symptomatic patients if a positive result won’t change how they would be treated. latimes.com/california/sto…
The guidance sets in writing what has been a reality all along. The shortage of tests nationwide has meant that many patients suspected of having COVID-19 have not had the diagnosis confirmed by a laboratory. latimes.com/california/sto…
For years, health officials have been warning that cuts to federal grants meant to boost preparedness would mean there wouldn’t be enough equipment and staff on hand to respond in a pandemic. Those fears have come to fruition now, officials said. latimes.com/california/sto…
Doctors are interpreting the guidance to mean they should only test patients who are going to be hospitalized or have something unique about the way they contracted the virus. latimes.com/california/sto…
Doctors say they are not planning to test patients who have the symptoms but are otherwise healthy enough to be sent home to self-quarantine — meaning they may never show up in official tallies of people who tested positive. latimes.com/california/sto…
