Coronavirus Patient in California Was Not Tested for Days – The New York Times

A California coronavirus patient had to wait days to be tested because of restrictive federal criteria, despite doctors requests. The patient, who has tested positive, may be the first person to be infected through community spread in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

C.D.C. officials said it was possible the patient was exposed to a returning traveler who was infected. At the moment, however, the new case appears to be one in which the source of infection is unknown, suggesting that the virus may be transmitted within the community.

Following mounting bipartisan criticism that the administration s response to the spread of the coronavirus had been sluggish, President Trump on Wednesday named Vice President Mike Pence to coordinate the government s response, even as he repeatedly played down the danger to the United States of a widespread domestic outbreak.

via www.nytimes.com