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CDC Warns That Antibody Tests Are Wrong Half the Time; Cuomo Blames Trump for Nursing Home Deaths; and How Two Hairstylists Exposed 140 People to COVID-19.
More than 100,500 Americans have now died from COVID-19. Despite this, many people continued to gather in large groups over Memorial Day weekend. And now, the CDC has issued a new warning about antibody tests. They might be wrong up to half the time.
Antibody tests are used to locate evidence that a body has had an immune response to infection. “Antibodies in some persons can be detected within the first week of illness onset,” said the CDC. However, the CDC stressed that the tests are not accurate enough to base important policy decisions on.
“Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools, dormitories, or correctional facilities,” warned the CDC.
Similarly, the CDC warned, “Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.”
“In most of the country, including areas that have been heavily impacted, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody is expected to be low, ranging from less than 5% to 25%, so that testing at this point might result in relatively more false positive results and fewer false-negative results,” said the CDC.
A big worry is that a false positive might lead someone to believe they’ve had the virus when they actually haven’t. This can result in a false confidence where the person might believe they are immune.
In the updated guidelines, the CDC said, “It cannot be assumed that individuals with truly positive antibody test results are protected from future infection.”
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has raised his profile during this pandemic. He hasn’t held back his criticism of the Trump administration’s lackluster response to the virus.
Democrats and others have rallied around Cuomo as a counter to Trump, with New Yorkers even hanging homemade signs in their windows supporting the governor. Many even joke about wanting to marry the outspoken politician, and what kind of anti aging skin products he must use. Cuomo has indeed been an interesting public figure to watch during this pandemic.
However, now Cuomo is receiving heavy criticism about the high number of nursing home deaths in his state.
These critics are “second-guessing a state directive that requires nursing homes take on new patients infected with COVID-19 – an order they say accelerated outbreaks in facilities that are prime breeding grounds for infectious diseases,” according to abc7NY.
“The way this has been handled by the state is totally irresponsible, negligent and stupid,” said Elaine Mazzotta, a nurse speaking to abc7NY. Her mother recently died of suspected COVID-19 at a nursing home in Long Island. “They knew better. They shouldn’t have sent these people into nursing homes.”
However, Cuomo says that his administration’s nursing home policy follows the president’s directives. In other words, it’s Trump’s fault.
“New York followed the president’s agencies’ guidance,” said Cuomo. “What New York did was follow what the republican administration said to do. That’s not my attempt to politicize it. It’s my attempt to depoliticize it. Do don’t criticize the state for following the president’s policy.”
The CDC guidance says “nursing homes should admit any individuals that they would normally admit to their facility including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present.”
It also required that “any newly admitted and readmitted resident with a COVID-19 case to be placed in a designated COVID-19 care unit while those who have met the criteria to have recovered can return to a regular unit in the nursing home.”
A Cuomo aide stressed that the directive reads, “Not could. Should. That is President Trump’s CMS and CDC. There are over a dozen states that did the exact same thing.”
Related: ‘Body Bags All Over,’ Trump Warns of Dark Coronavirus Reality
Two hairstylists at a Great Clips in Missouri potentially exposed 140 people to COVID-19. The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced that a COVID-19 positive hairstylist potentially exposed 84 clients. A second hairstylist also tested positive and exposed 56 clients at the same salon.
While both employees were wearing face coverings, they were both symptomatic while working. The potential exposure took place between May 12 and May 20 over nine days’ time.
One big concern is whether face coverings are enough. While they can lessen the spread of the virus, they don’t stop it entirely. Many people do not wear them correctly. Others choose not to wear them at all.
Missouri started to allow hair salons to reopen on May 4, and lifted many other restrictions. On Saturday, Springfield started Phase Two, which additionally allowed gyms, bars, and public pools to reopen. Gatherings of up to 50 people are okay, as long as they follow social distancing requirements.
However, crowds of many more than 50 people have been gathering.
Related: Salon Owner Jailed for Reopening Despite COVID-19 Restrictions
