Testing for COVID-19 has been a hot topic in recent weeks. On Tuesday, officials with Owensboro Health shared some concerns with testing procedures — namely, that a number of asymptomatic individuals are being told by employers to get tested before returning to work after a co-worker is diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Chief Medical Officer Francis DuFrayne said Owensboro Health has not tested these asymptomatic individuals, but the number of them being required by their employer to be tested continues to increase.
“We are not doing that,” DuFrayne said. “To test someone who is asymptomatic and receive a negative test is just giving them a false sense of security … You could get [the coronavirus] two days later. When people get negative results they go out, and they think they can do anything, and that’s not true.”
Owensboro Health does not have enough tests to give one to those who do not display severe symptoms, DuFrayne said.
With a potential surge in COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks, it’s imperative that testing kits be used on those who need them most.
This new trend of seeing asymptomatic employees come in for testing is not being condoned by Owensboro Health, the Green River District Health Department or state officials.
DuFrayne and Vice President of Medical Affairs Michael Kelley said employees who’ve been required to take a COVID-19 test by their employers have worked with one or more colleagues who’ve tested positive for the virus.
Just last week, Owensboro Health had 17 asymptomatic individuals ask to be tested so they could return to work, and that was within a 24-hour period.
“We don’t follow that [method],” DuFrayne said. “People should not be required to be tested to go back to work.”
DuFrayne and Kelley said they’ve seen “a few” different workplaces require testing for asymptomatic employees over the last several days.
“I’m concerned that, as that process continues, other companies will follow suit,” DuFrayne said. “Nobody has an abundance of supplies to test everyone.”
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
