Every California resident with symptoms of the coronavirus is now considered a top priority for testing, state public health officials announced Thursday in a move that signals growing confidence that testing capacity has increased enough to handle a significant portion of the state’s population.
Symptomatic low-risk people — including young adults without underlying health conditions — are now among the state’s top priorities for testing, along with six other specified groups, according to the new guidelines from the state Department of Public Health.
Officials also announced late Wednesday that all people in high-risk settings, including grocery store employees, bus drivers and law enforcement officers, should also be included among the highest priority to receive routine screenings for the virus.
Such workers, considered “essential” even amid the shutdown, continue to come into regular contact with the public and therefore should be given priority access to testing, even if they don’t show symptoms, according to the new state guidelines.
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