Weekly COVID-19 Testing for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare staff have the highest exposure rate to COVID-19, but in many states they are not being tested for the virus until they are symptomatic. By that point, they have already exposed countless people to the virus. Additionally, without regular testing, healthcare staff face a constant state of uncertainty about whether they remain virus-free with no real way to alleviate that fear unless they begin showing symptoms. Our healthcare staff (including everyone who works at the hospital, not just the doctors/nurses/therapists) is on the front lines fighting this pandemic for our country every day and they should be prioritized for testing.

Public health officials, like those at the World Health Organization, have increasingly warned that health care workers themselves could be vectors for the disease — accelerating its spread and undermining the ability of countries’ health systems to combat it. The United States government should advise healthcare organizations to prioritize making periodic testing available for healthcare staff who work in facilities or homes where patients have tested positive for coronavirus.

After healthcare workers, COVID-19 testing should be prioritized for essential workers and for those who care for immuno-compromised family members.