SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #96: Clinician and Laboratory Guidance Including Testing and Supplies

North Carolina is experiencing increased community transmission of COVID-19 in many areas of the state, particularly among our historically marginalized populations, especially our Latinx community. Pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic spread is playing an important role.

Increased testing, including for those without symptoms, expanded contact tracing, and adherence to control measures like self-isolation and quarantine, are important to control viral transmission across the state.  

Updated provider guidance recommends that clinicians conduct or arrange for diagnostic COVID-19 testing for: 

• Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. 
• Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms.
• Populations with higher risk of exposure or a higher risk of severe disease if they become infected, if they believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms.
• People who have attended protests, rallies, or other mass gatherings could have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or could have exposed others. Testing should be considered for people who attended such events, particularly if they were in crowds or other situations where they couldn’t practice effective social distancing.

To support testing in places trusted by populations being hit hardest by COVID-19, NCDHHS also has a new resource available: COVID-19 Community Testing in Historically Marginalized Populations: Best Practices.