CDC: Test all nursing home patients, whether sick or not, for coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is changing the protocols for slowing the spread of coronavirus in hard-hit nursing homes, recommending that all residents and healthcare providers be tested even if they are not showing signs of sickness.

"Initial viral testing of each resident in any nursing home (who are not known to have previously been diagnosed with COVID-19) is recommended because of the high likelihood of exposure during a pandemic, transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, and the risk of complications among residents following infection," the CDC said in new guidance issued Saturday.

The federal agency also recommended that nursing home operators "perform initial viral testing" on all health care providers in their facility and then conduct "weekly viral testing thereafter."

The new rules were issued as nursing homes and other long-term care facilities make plans to re-open and allow for residents to interact with family members again after lengthy lockdowns.

The agency also recommended that if residents have symptoms, but test negative for COVID-19, that other testing be conducted to find the cause. 

"Clinicians are encouraged to consider testing symptomatic residents for other causes of respiratory illness, for example influenza, in addition to testing for SARS-CoV-2," it said.

It, however, advised against testing patients more than once in a 24-hour period.