At Home COVID-19 Test Kit Announced Today for Those Infected – BUT, What About Household Members?
Doctor Amanda Johnson, Director of Take Care New York, appeared on Mayor de Blasio’s press conference today to share some important news – that of a self testing kit being added to the ‘Take Care Package’ being sent out to Quarantining New Yorkers in need of guidance and care.
Dr. Johnson demonstrated how to make use of the included test kit and explained how one can easily contact the city for its pickup and delivery – as well as following up through one’s Test & Trace point of contact to learn of the results and when one can exit their quarantine period.
It was on May 12, that the Mayor announced the doctor’s position in running New York City’s Test and Trace Corp’s Tracing and Isolation operation. She last appeared within the Mayor’s press briefing on August 7 to announce the ‘Take Care Package’ and what would be included in the kit. Today’s announcements goes much farther in helping New Yorker’s safely adhere to the separation process by being better informed.
“Household transmission is a significant concern for New Yorkers. We know that many of us live with roommates and it’s not uncommon to have households where you have children, parents and grandparents all sleeping under the same roof,” said Dr. Johnson.
“We have emerging data from the CDC that shows us that households where one person has tested positive for COVID-19, 53% of those households go on to have a second person test positive for COVID-19 – and we also see that that transmission happens very early on. Of those 53% of households that went on to have a second person develop COVID-19, 75% had those infections happen within those first five days after exposure. So time really is of the essence here. We want you to know that the Take Care program is here to support you in doing the things that are going to keep your family members safe.”
A question, partially on our minds was asked by a fellow member of the press. Who is this kit for and whether it allows a person to exit quarantine upon testing negative? Although such kits are already being sent to individuals who have been confirmed as being infected through a test then for whom would this newly added ‘Test Kit’ be sent to?
Dr. Johnson stated that testing negative would not allow one to exit their term of quarantine.
Yet, a greater and more important question on our mind is this: Who really is this kit really for? Obviously, if one’s tested positive then why would they need to test again? – and at what point would they need to test again if they receive this test kit. What about those others within the household? Will they have access to such kits? Clearly, as the doctor reminded us, being in close contact with a confirmed positive case requires that you follow suit by quarantining.
Yours truly was not able to ask any questions today. Hopefully there’ll be greater clarity on the horizon.
As a reminder, such above mentioned services are offered to New Yorkers free of charge.