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| Coronavirus: US 'failing' on testing, says Anthony Fauci | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A top health official in the US says that the testing system for coronavirus is currently failing. | A top health official in the US says that the testing system for coronavirus is currently failing. |
| "The system is not really geared to what we need right now... let's admit it," said Dr Anthony Fauci from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. | "The system is not really geared to what we need right now... let's admit it," said Dr Anthony Fauci from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. |
| The government has come under fire as the US has conducted far fewer tests than many other affected countries. | The government has come under fire as the US has conducted far fewer tests than many other affected countries. |
| There are currently more than 1,300 confirmed cases of the virus in the US. | There are currently more than 1,300 confirmed cases of the virus in the US. |
| Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said that the US had "a tremendous testing set up where people coming in have to be tested". However, he did not give further details, and there has not been routine testing for the virus in the US. | Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said that the US had "a tremendous testing set up where people coming in have to be tested". However, he did not give further details, and there has not been routine testing for the virus in the US. |
| How many tests are being done in the US? | How many tests are being done in the US? |
| In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Vice-President Mike Pence could not confirm how many Americans had been tested for the virus, saying he "would leave that to the experts". | In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Vice-President Mike Pence could not confirm how many Americans had been tested for the virus, saying he "would leave that to the experts". |
| According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of at least 11,079 specimens have been tested for coronavirus since January. However, the number of people tested is likely to be much lower, as patients typically provide at least two specimens for testing. | According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of at least 11,079 specimens have been tested for coronavirus since January. However, the number of people tested is likely to be much lower, as patients typically provide at least two specimens for testing. |
| Furthermore, government officials say they do not know the number of people being tested, because some tests are being conducted by private hospitals and laboratories that have not been reporting in to the CDC. | Furthermore, government officials say they do not know the number of people being tested, because some tests are being conducted by private hospitals and laboratories that have not been reporting in to the CDC. |
| By contrast, South Korea has tested more than 210,000 people and is testing nearly 20,000 people every day, while in the UK, more than 29,700 people have been tested, and more than 1,000 tests are being carried out per day. | By contrast, South Korea has tested more than 210,000 people and is testing nearly 20,000 people every day, while in the UK, more than 29,700 people have been tested, and more than 1,000 tests are being carried out per day. |
| On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries - but was criticised by Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer for not addressing the lack of sufficient coronavirus testing kits. | On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries - but was criticised by Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer for not addressing the lack of sufficient coronavirus testing kits. |
| Republican lawmakers have also expressed frustration, with one senator, James Lankford saying: "We've got a long way to go to be able to get rapid, efficient testing." | Republican lawmakers have also expressed frustration, with one senator, James Lankford saying: "We've got a long way to go to be able to get rapid, efficient testing." |
| What is happening elsewhere? | What is happening elsewhere? |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'We weren't prepared for this' | 'We weren't prepared for this' |
| Ashitha Nagesh, BBC News | Ashitha Nagesh, BBC News |
| By the time the coronavirus hit Seattle and turned the city into the centre of the US outbreak, it had already spread rapidly in countries like Italy and Iran. | By the time the coronavirus hit Seattle and turned the city into the centre of the US outbreak, it had already spread rapidly in countries like Italy and Iran. |
| Despite this, Seattle doctors told me, their hospital wasn't ready for what was coming. | Despite this, Seattle doctors told me, their hospital wasn't ready for what was coming. |
| Dr Alex Adami of the University of Washington (UW) said: "None of us were actually trained in how to deal with the precautions for this disease, or what to do in terms of screening or providing care for these patients." | Dr Alex Adami of the University of Washington (UW) said: "None of us were actually trained in how to deal with the precautions for this disease, or what to do in terms of screening or providing care for these patients." |
| Hospital workers and patients were exposed to the virus as a result, he said. | Hospital workers and patients were exposed to the virus as a result, he said. |
| Another doctor at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, said that failing to prepare was "foolish" and may have exacerbated the spread. | Another doctor at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, said that failing to prepare was "foolish" and may have exacerbated the spread. |
| Initially, the hospital said that broader training was not needed, arguing that having only a small group of doctors working with coronavirus patients would limit exposure. | Initially, the hospital said that broader training was not needed, arguing that having only a small group of doctors working with coronavirus patients would limit exposure. |
| Hospitals in Seattle have since updated their procedures, but Dr Adami feared the same mistakes could be repeated elsewhere in the US. | Hospitals in Seattle have since updated their procedures, but Dr Adami feared the same mistakes could be repeated elsewhere in the US. |
| "I want other hospitals in the US to look at this and say, 'what can we do better?'. I want people to look at this and learn the lesson that you have to be proactive and not reactive." | "I want other hospitals in the US to look at this and say, 'what can we do better?'. I want people to look at this and learn the lesson that you have to be proactive and not reactive." |