The CDC’s testing guidance will make the pandemic worse
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge More than 180,000 people have died because of COVID-19 in the United States. And this week, the agency tasked with fighting the worst pandemic in a century recommended surrender.
Earlier this week, the US Centers for Disease Control updated its COVID-19 advice to recommend fewer people get tested for the virus. The agency's previous advice urged tests for all close contacts" of infected people, stressing the importance of contacts being quickly identified and tested." Now, it says people without symptoms do not necessarily need a test," even if they were directly exposed or attended a large gathering in a viral hotspot. It makes exceptions for vulnerable individuals" and adds a vague instruction to follow local health officials -...