Coronavirus: Seattle lab that tried to sound early warning can resume tests after being ordered to stop
- Infectious disease experts in a hard-hit area were blocked by federal health officials when they saw evidence of community spread weeks ago
- Contradicting Trump’s claim that tests are available to all, a Republican senator says: ‘We’ve got a long way to go to be able to get rapid, efficient testing’
A research lab in Seattle, Washington, one of the areas in the US hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, has cleared a hurdle that had prevented its epidemiologists from following up on evidence they found in January that the contagion was spreading in the region.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that infectious disease experts in Seattle were blocked by federal health officials from testing more widely or publicising the issue when they saw evidence of community spread weeks ago, potentially impeding the US’s response to the contagion.
After the report, Dr. Jay Shendure, lead principal investigator of the Seattle Flu Study, a project led by the Brotman Baty Institute, said that his team had “identified a path forward” that would allow them to continue testing and that they were now collaborating with local, state and national health authorities.
“In the face of this unprecedented health threat, there are times when we have all felt the need to move fast in an effort to save lives. … This collaboration will be crucial to helping us overcome the current challenge and putting in place a strong foundation for the future,” Shendure said in a statement.
Previously, the US had performed testing through health departments and commercial laboratory giants such as Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corp of America.
