CDC updates coronavirus guidance

Editor's Note

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on February 27 updated its guidance for healthcare professionals evaluating and reporting patients under investigation for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The CDC has developed clinical criteria to guide patient evaluation based on what is known about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The criteria are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

The CDC says it hopes to have every state and local public health department able to test for COVID-19 by the end of this week.

No vaccine or specific treatment is available; care is supportive.