There have been "unprecedented strides" made in coronavirus testing, but tests still need to be prioritized because there are not enough for everyone in the country to be tested, Adm. Brett Giroir, the Health and Human Services' Assistant Secretary for Health, said Tuesday.
"We need to prioritize those who really do need testing, for those who are sick, those who are healthcare workers, or elderly or in long-term care institutions," Giroir told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "We're not at the stage of being able to test everyone who just wants a test or even a person who is otherwise normal and healthy who might be mildly ill."
The administration feels good about the numbers of tests, he added, and about being able to test people "who really need it," he added.
Governors in rural states are complaining that they are unable to get testing supplies, and Giroir said the administration is working closely with them.
"Obviously New York City has more tests because they have the most patients," he said. "Over 50% of people infected are in New York City. Numbers to numbers are not going to add. We're working with places like Montana."
But with the advent of the new point-of-care test, 15 machines are going to the state health lab in Montana, and numbers going to other states will be "greatly increased" in upcoming months.
Giroir also commented on President Donald Trump's questions concerning hospitals that may be hoarding supplies, saying that he doesn't know if there is hoarding so much as over-requesting supplies.
"It is very clear that most people are operating on the principle of let's take the outer boundary of what we might need," said Giroir, adding that with ventilators, "there can be a 10-fold difference in what is potentially needed versus what is most likely needed."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.