Mild and moderately ill persons with COVID-19 who seek testing are exposing others in healthcare settings including other patients and healthcare staff. At this point in the pandemic, demand for unnecessary testing is contributing to the rapidly diminishing supply of PPE and leading to a decreasing supply of swabs and viral transport media used to collect diagnostic specimens for COVID-19 testing. Additionally, some healthcare facilities in parts of the city, especially emergency departments (EDs), have seen a surge of visits due to influenza-like illness attributed to COVID-19. Emergency medical care should be reserved for persons who are severely ill, and persons with milder illness need to be strongly encouraged to stay home.

COVID-19 like illness includes any new onset (in last 7 days) of subjective or measured (≥100.4oF or 38.0oC) fever OR cough OR shortness of breath OR sore throat that cannot be attributed to an underlying or previously recognized condition. In children, fever with sore throat may be attributable to conditions other than COVID-19 (e.g., strep throat) and parent/guardian should consult a healthcare provider to determine if medical evaluation is needed.

To preserve PPE for HCW providing medically necessary care for hospitalized patients, the NYC Health Department is directing healthcare facilities to IMMEDIATELY STOP TESTING NON-HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS FOR COVID-19 unless test results will impact the clinical management of the patient. In addition, do not test asymptomatic people, including HCWs or first responders. COVID-19 testing is only indicated for HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS.

Implement measures to prevent unnecessary in-person healthcare visits by people with mild or moderate illness. EDs should only receive severely ill patients or those who require immediate emergency care. Individual hospital systems may create alternate testing venues to offload their emergency departments. Outpatient testing must not be promoted or advertised outside of these strategies. People with mild or moderate illness should be discouraged from leaving their home for testing.