Testing should be considered for any person with a fever and cough who belongs to any of the following populations:
- Evidence of viral lower respiratory disease without alternative diagnosis, especially if hospitalized
- Any resident of a senior living facility, including skilled nursing facilities or assisted living facilities.
- Contacts to known COVID-19 cases
- Health care workers
- Persons who care for the elderly
- Persons experiencing homelessness
While there are multiple viruses present in the community causing respiratory illness, anyone in Orange County who develops fever and cough could potentially have SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of travel or exposure history. PLEASE CONTACT ME RIGHT AWAY SO I CAN CONSIDER TESTING.
Currently the OC Health Care Agency states that:
Patients with mild illness who do not belong to a priority population do not need to be tested. They can be counseled (by phone triage if possible) to follow up if shortness of breath or other more serious symptoms develop and stay at home away from work or school, crowds and persons at high risk until at least 72 hours after fever resolves....
I expect this to broaden quickly so that all can be tested. You can email me in the evening and I will get back to you first thing in the morning.
