The State will have more flexibility to test faster and help minimize supply issues
Nevada’s capacity to test patients for COVID-19 took a positive step today. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three states, including Nevada, to determine the quality of newly developed COVID-19 test kits and kit components.
“This change in Nevada’s status will allow the State of Nevada, not the FDA, to determine whether products associated with testing are safe and effective for testing,” said Dr. Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory. “This means that when labs in Nevada do validation studies on products to determine whether they are effective prior to launching testing, they can submit their findings to the state, not the FDA, for approval. This is a much faster process. By the end of next week, we should have data on novel products for testing that should increase testing capacity considerably.”
This new capability doesn’t open up test availability for every citizen quite yet. However, it does allow health care providers the ability to prioritize who gets tested first: those with serious symptoms, vulnerable citizens, and health care workers most likely to come in contact with COVID-19. Per testing guidelines, those with mild symptoms do not need to be tested.
Other states approved to develop, assess and conduct their own testing for COVID-19 are Maryland and Washington. The State of New York Department of Health Wadsworth Center has also received this approval.
Further testing guidance provided to health care professionals
It is important to note that until testing supplies and laboratory capacity are widely available, the Department of Health and Human Services is asking providers to follow the below recommendations.
Prioritize testing the following patients displaying COVID-19 symptoms:
- Patients hospitalized with severe lower respiratory signs and symptoms of illness
- Health care providers and workers
- Patients in other public safety occupations (e.g., law enforcement, firefighter, EMS)
- Patients involved in an illness cluster in a facility or institution (e.g., health care, schools, corrections, homeless/shelters, other institution/congregate setting)
Until testing is more readily available, asymptomatic individuals should not be tested
The following patients should contact their health provider immediately and be tested for COVID-19 if their symptoms worsen or their health care provider recommends testing:
- Patients older than 60 years of age
- Patients with underlying conditions
- Pregnant women
Regardless of whether testing is performed or not, individuals should:
- Stay home except to get medical care
- Separate from other people and pets at home
- Practice proper hand hygiene
- Cover a cough and sneeze with clean single-use tissues
- Wear a face mask to reduce the spread of the virus at home, in a shared space and in a car
- Clean all surfaces that are touched frequently at least once a day
- Self-monitor symptoms
- Promptly call health care providers if symptoms worsen https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
- Seek medical attention if respiratory infection symptoms/illness start worsening including, but not limited to:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
Healthy individuals and younger individuals under the age of 60 with mild symptoms do not need to be tested
A negative test result does not rule out the possibility of an infection.
Guidance for individuals on when to discontinue self-isolation
Individuals with symptoms who have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or confirmed to have it, and suspected cases who were directed to care for themselves at home, can discontinue home-isolation under the following conditions:
A. At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery. Recovery is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications OR resolution of respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);
B. At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
An individual can stop self-isolating when the above criteria have been met and no subsequent respiratory symptoms or illness have occurred.
This Is Reno’s COVID-19 news coverage
City Council approves spending extra $70 million for water purification project
Reno City Council members on Wednesday approved a $70 million bond to provide additional funding for the American Flat Advanced Purified Water Project.
State announces updated COVID-19 vaccines now available
Nevadans can now get the updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect against the new strains of the disease, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday.
America’s Frontline Doctors, Nev. doctor face court defeats over hydroxychloroquine death (updated)
America’s Frontline Doctors and a Nev. doctor, Medina Culver, have faced two court losses after being sued by a Sparks man’s family for wrongful death.
Northern Nevada sees spikes in Covid-19 hospitalizations as feds end free vaccines
Across the country, there’s been an increase in Covid-19 hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and positive tests.
200,000 Nevadans will need to re-qualify for Medicaid as pandemic provision winds down
An estimated 200,000 Medicaid recipients will need to re-qualify for eligibility starting April 1 or risk losing health care benefits as Nevada begins to wind down a pandemic-era provision.
Vegas physician, America’s Frontline Doctors sued after Washoe County man died from hydroxychloroquine
The estate of Jeremy Parker last week sued the anti-vaccination, right-wing group America’s Frontline Doctors for alleged wrongful death. Dr. Medina Culver, an osteopathic physician and Instagram influencer based in Henderson, Nevada, is also named in the case.
County: Respiratory viruses pose ‘triple threat’ in community
Officials at the Washoe County Health District said the region is seeing a respiratory illness “triple threat” with cases of COVID-19, RSV and influenza on the rise.
RSV, COVID increasing across Washoe County
Respiratory illnesses including RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 are increasing in Washoe County based on the latest case counts and forecasting from wastewater data studies.
Health District: Prepare for flu season
Flu season is starting now and it’s time to get the flu vaccine, according to Washoe County Health Officer Kevin Dick.
New COVID-19 boosters available, monkeypox vaccine event nearly full
Washoe County Health District officials this week said the new bivalent COVID-19 booster is available in the community and encouraged locals to get their dose.
