New CDC Testing Guidelines

[Ride-The-Waves]

From today's NY Times:

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a new recommendation on Thursday that asymptomatic people who are using coronavirus antigen tests take at least three tests, each spaced 48 hours apart, to reduce the odds of missing an infection.

People who have Covid-19 symptoms should take at least two tests, 48 hours apart, according to the agency.

The new guidelines come as the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant of Omicron continues to spread, and after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its recommendation for routine surveillance testing in most circumstances.

Many people have reported that at-home tests failed to detect their infections, but studies have generally shown that rapid antigen tests are as good at detecting Omicron as they were at detecting Delta, the previous variant of concern.

The new recommendations are “very grounded in science,” said Dr. Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist who is now the chief science officer for eMed, which sells at-home tests. “Sometimes it takes the virus two days to grow to a detectable level and sometimes it takes six days to grow.”

 

This is likely a prime reason cruise lines are seeing infections on board.  A single pre-boarding test the day before isn't enough to identify those who are infected on embarkation.  And now cruise lines are eliminating testing.  Sounds scary to me.  We still plan to cruise in November but will seriously practice "social distancing" and wear masks on board.  Everyone should.  

 

[MEFIowa]

17 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

... And now cruise lines are eliminating testing.  Sounds scary to me.  We still plan to cruise in November but will seriously practice "social distancing" and wear masks on board.  Everyone should."

 

Carnival, NCL and Princess are waiving pre-testing for most cruises for the VACCINATED only. Pre-testing remains for the unvaccinated.

 

As for "should", those who can medically "should" get vaccinated and boosted. The single best thing they can do for themselves and others. But those who "should" but "don't" are the potential primary problem vis-a-vis anyone getting seriously ill or dying while on the cruise or immediately afterward.