Americans have been tested less for coronavirus over the past week despite efforts to expand testing due to a lack of equipment shortage, federal funding, and narrow testing criteria by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a report in Politico.
The news outlet cited figures from the American Clinical Laboratory Association in its report – the organization said the number of samples commercial labs handle each day fell from 108,000 on April 5 to 75,000 by April 12, or more than 30%.
"ACLA members have now eliminated testing backlogs, and have considerable capacity that is not being used," ACLA President Julie Khani told Politico. "We stand ready to perform more testing and are in close communication with public health partners about ways we can support additional needs."
The federal government ended funding for coronavirus testing sites April 8, as it was only intended as a stopgap to bring testing to critical locations, especially for healthcare workers and first responders.
Additionally, the CDC in March revised its testing criteria to prioritize hospital patients, health care workers and those thought to be especially vulnerable to the disease.
Epidemiologists and infectious-disease specialists have included widespread testing as part of the strategy for sending people back to work safely, though President Donald Trump last Thursday said mass testing was not necessary, "but it would be a great thing to have."
The virus, which is reported to have originated in Wuhan, China, has infected nearly 2 million people worldwide and killed more than 126,000.