Physicians & health care workers call for reversal of dangerous new testing guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or resignation of CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield

As physicians, health professionals and medical practitioners, we are extremely concerned about new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommend people NOT be tested for COVID-19 if they have no symptoms and even after exposure to infected individuals.

This decision contradicts established science and evidence-based medical guidance on how rapid, robust testing can address, suppress and ultimately eradicate outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Because we believe this CDC guideline endangers public health and the safety and security of every American during the COVID-19 pandemic, we call on the CDC to reverse it, or else for CDC Director Robert Redfield to resign immediately.

This is not the first time during the Trump Administration that politics has intruded into what should be objective, science- and evidence-based and data-driven policymaking in the field of public health.

After President Trump publicly hailed hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment in March, the CDC provided unusual guidance for its use based on unattributed anecdotal reports, not peer-reviewed science or medical evidence gathered from clinical trials. The CDC’s apparent endorsement also came as President Trump announced that he had ordered 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine. Science has since linked hydroxychloroquine to heart disease and other health complications.  

The CDC’s new guidelines exempting people who don’t show any symptoms from being tested for COVID-19 even after they have been in close contact with COVID-19 individuals comes two months after President Trump publicly told an audience in Tulsa, Okla., that he wants less COVID-19 testing to keep case counts low. President Trump’s goal of fewer tests flies in the face of science-based pandemic response and recovery. Testing ensures people with COVID-19 are identified and receive proper care, isolation and therapy. Testing also prevents COVID-19 from spreading unchecked because it helps public health workers trace a positive individual’s contacts so people who have been exposed can also be tested and properly quarantined if they test positive.

Testing as many people as possible is especially important because nearly half of the people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

The CDC’s new guideline is, simply put, dangerous.

As the nation’s lead public health agency in charge of reducing COVID-19 infections, the CDC should be at the forefront of efforts to increase testing and to reduce turnaround times for results. Instead, the United States is only testing around 700,000 people a day when public health experts recommend at least 1 million people be tested daily. Meanwhile, tests have declined from around 800,000 a day to 700,000 nationwide from July to August, with precipitous drops in Texas (45 percent), Arizona (36 percent) and Florida (27 percent). And wait times for results now average about four days, and as long as 10 days in some cases.

We must also remember that COVID-19 has killed 180,000 Americans between March and August and sickened 5.5 million people. Under Dr. Redfield’s stewardship, the CDC has allowed politics to hijack its vitally important public health mission, sabotage its daily operations and erode its integrity. Before the CDC is further compromised to the point of impotence and ineffectiveness, and before even more lives are claimed by COVID, the new guidelines should be reversed to again recommend those exposed be tested regardless of symptoms. Otherwise, Dr. Redfield must resign, so new leadership can correct the agency’s course, insulate it from political meddling and restore its role as a trusted custodian of Americans’ health.

The co-signed physicians & health care workers below demand the reversal of new testing guidelines from the CDC, or the resignation of CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield:

Seema Abbasi, MD; Pediatric Infectious Diseases (Seattle, WA)

Roma Amin, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Christine Amstadt, DO MPH; Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (Downers Grove, IL)

Rhonda Ardelean, PA-C; Urgent Care (Charlotte, NC)

Alan Arnone, DC; Chiropractic (San Jose, CA)

Bernard Ashby, MD; Cardiology (Hollywood, FL)

Roger Aviles, MD; Pediatrics (Edina, MN)

Ralph Aye, MD; Thoracic Surgery (Sammamish, WA)

Neil Bajwa, MD; Gastroenterologist (St. Petersburg, FL)

Lois Barbour, RN, MS, CNS; Quality (Stuart, VA)

Christine Beadle, MD; Preventive Medicine (San Diego, CA)

John Bedwinek, MD; Radiation Oncology (Saint Louis, MO)

Randy Bergman, MD; Internal Medicine (San Antonio, TX)

Eric Berke, MD; Infectious Disease (Dunedin, FL)

Ean Bett, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Susan Black, MD; Genetics (Vienna, VA)

Paula Bononi, MD; Internal Medicine (Glenside, PA)

Michael Boquard, MD; Family Physician (Baltimore, MD)

Deborah Bostic, MD; Pediatric (Clifton Park, NY)

Ramses Boutin, MD; Internal Medicine (Corona, CA)

Cynthia Boynton, MD; Internal Medicine (East Lansing, MI)

Jeanie Branconi, MD; Family Medicine (Apollo Beach, FL)

Michael Brennan, MD; Psychiatry (Apache Junction, AZ)

Richard Bruno, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AAHIVS; Family & Preventive Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

Joseph Budovec, MD; Radiology (Brookfield, WI)

Tina Bujenovic, RN; Licensed School Nurse (Yellow Springs, OH)

Carl Burak, MD; CEO nonprofit (Atlantic Beach, FL)

Richard Campo, MD; Urology (Paramus, NJ)

Eric Capulla, MD; Internal Medicine (San Francisco, CA)

Ethan Chapin, MD; Emergency Medicine (Jupiter, FL)

Arthur Childs, DO, MSHQSM; Internal Medicine Critical Care (Cape May Court House, NJ)

Charles Christianson, MD; Family Practice/Public health (Grand Forks, ND)

Paul Chuba, MD; Radiation Oncology (Grosse Pointe Park, MI)

Cathy Ciolek, DPT; Rehabilitation (Wilmington, DE)

Roger Cohen, MD; Surgery (Fox Point, WI)

Carol Coldren, MD; Ob/Gyn (Coatesville, PA)

Sean Coldren, MD; Psychiatry (Coatesville, PA)

Stacy Colodny, MD; Anesthesiology (Denver, CO)

Deborah Coons, RN; ICU/ PACU (germantown, NY)

Max Cooper, MD; Emergency Medicine (Nether Providence Township, PA)

Jennifer Cowart, MD; Internal Medicine (Jacksonville, FL)

Teresa Craddock, MD; OB GYN (Wichita, KS)

Holly Crowley, MD; Neurology (Thomasville, GA)

Diana DaBell, MD; Emergency Medicine (Peoria, AZ)

Natalya Davis, MD; Pediatrics (Norwell, MA)

Natalya Davis, MD; Pediatrics (Norwell, MA)

John DiTraglia, MD; Pediatrics (Portsmouth, OH)

Edwin Dolin, MD; Radiology (Scottsdale, AZ)

Kenneth Donaldson, LMHC; Mental Health Counselor (Seminole, FL)

Keira Duvernoy, DO; General medicine (Interlochen, MI)

William Dworet, DO; Pain Medicine (Orleans, MA)

Alan Edwards, MD; Family practice / Emergency (Industry, PA)

Jacalyn Eenigenburg, RN; Skilled/Rehab/Covid Unit Nurse (Houghton, MI)

Mark Elder, MD,PhD; Internal Medicine (Boulder, CO)

Katharina Elliott, MD; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Kalamazoo, MI)

Randall Enstrom, MD; Interventional Radiology (El Dorado Hills, CA)

Sara Erickson, MD; Internal Medicine (Kennebunk, ME)

Nicole Esposito, MD; Family Medicine (Encinitas, CA)

Michael Etomi, MD; Internal Medicine (Charlotte, NC)

Marcus Eubanks, MD, MPM, FACEP; Emergency Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

Margaux Everingham, Student; Student (Philadelphia, PA)

Ann Faber, LISW; Mental health (Cincinnati, OH)

Barry Farkas, MD MPH FAAFP; Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Public Health (Pittsburgh, PA)

Jaclyn Fleming, DO; Pediatrician (Reston, VA)

Robert Freedland, MD; Ophthalmology (La Crosse, WI)

Robert Furia, MD; Internal Medicine (Newtown Square, PA)

David Garfield, MD; Medical Oncology (Paradise Valley, AZ)

Christopher Gaynor, MD; Family Medicine/HIV medicine (Seattle, WA)

Steven Gerke, MD; Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (Indianapolis, IN)

Julie Gerndt, MD; Psychiatry (Sturgeon Bay, WI)

Maria Gervits, MD; Family Medicine (New York, NY)

Sandra Gonzalez, MD; Pediatric Anesthesiology (Gainesville, FL)

DiGi Graham, Doctor of Pharmacy; Hospice and Palliative Care Pharmacist (Tulsa, OK)

Maurice Gregory, MD; Integrative Adult Medicine (Las Vegas, NV)

Fatma Gul, MD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dallas, TX)

Ronald Gup, MD; Pulmonary (Hollywood, FL)

Linda Hammock, LCAS; Addiction (Chapel Hill, NC)

Alexis Hansen, Medical Student; Medical Student (Grand Rapids, MI)

Lexine Hebets , MD; Obgyn (Phoenix, AZ)

Kathleen Heckman, RN; Nurse Manager Outpatient Surgery Center (Rensselaer, NY)

Patricia Heldman, MD; Psychiatry (San Francisco, CA)

Ann Helms, MD; Neurology (Brookfield, WI)

Michael Helms, MD; Family Practice (Granger, IN)

Griselda Higuera, MD; Pediatrics (San Diego, CA)

Emiliano Higuera, MD; Pediatrics (San Diego, CA)

William Hocking, MD; Oncology-Hematology (Marshfield, WI)

Harland Holman, MD; Family Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI)

Yves Homsy, MD; Urology (Tampa, FL)

Jeff Huebner, MD; Family Medicine (Madison, WI)

Susan Hughes, MD; Family Practice (Scottsdale, AZ)

Chukwueloka Ikedi, MD; Family Medicine (Palos Heights, IL)

Laurie Jackson, LPN; Hospice (Dayton, OH)

Richard Johnson, MD; Hospital Medicine (Cheshire, CT)

Leyton Jump, MD; Family Practice (Tenino, WA)

Charles Katzenberg, MD; Cardiology (tucson, AZ)

Charlrs Kaufman, MD; Neurology (Baton Rouge, LA)

John Kersting, MD; Psychiatry (North Dighton, TN)

Melina Khwaja, MD; Emergency medicine (Melville, NY)

Deandrea King, MD; Neurology (Brookline, MA)

Barbara Kiracofe, R.N.; OR; Hemodialysis (Bridgewater, VA)

Anne Kolker, MD; Anesthesia (New York, NY)

Anne Kolker, MD; Anesthesia (New York, NY)

James LaBelle, MD; Emergency Medicine (San Diego, CA)

Daro Largoza, MD; Gen. Practice (Syracuse, NY)

Cinda Liggon, MD; Psychiatry (Fayetteville, PA)

Linda Lindsey, MD; Internal Medicine (Gainesville, VA)

Keith Lobert, MD; Anesthesiology (Rockford, MI)

Alan Lubin, MD; Hematology (Gates Mills, OH)

Megan Lynch, DO; Rheumatology (San Diego, CA)

Al Maher, MD; internal medicine (Reno, NV)

Raymond J. Mailloux, MD; Family Practice (Garland, TX)

Laurel Mark, MD; Internal Medicine (Madison, WI)

Kristi Maso, MD; Critical care (Milwaukee, WI)

John McAdam, MD; Internal Medicine (East Northport, NY)

Carolyn McClanahan, MD; Family Medicine (JACKSONVILLE, FL)

Gerard Menut, MD; Surgery (Berkeley, CA)

Maureen Miller, MD; Allergy & Immunology (Boca Raton, FL)

Bibhu Misra, DC, MS; Chiropractic and Rehab (Ashburn, VA)

Bibhu Misra, DC, MS; Chiropractic and Rehab (Ashburn, VA)

Jane Mobley, MD; Internal Medicine (Arley, AL)

Chonlada Mokrue, MD; Internal Medicine (New York, NY)

Ira Monosson, MD; Internal Medicine & Cardiology (Los Angeles, CA)

Christopher Morabito, MD; Pediatrics (Lexington, MA)

Roberta Moreland, MD; Dermatology (Lewes, DE)

Jonathan Morgan, MD; Radiology (Newtown Square, PA)

Monique Morisseau, MD; Family Medicine (Grand Junction, CO)

David Moss, MD; Psychiatry (Orange Park, FL)

Wendy Muello, MD; Internal Medicine (Jefferson, NH)

Javier Nazario Larrieu, MD; Interventional Radiology (El Cinco, PR)

Charles Nevels, MD; Geriatric Psychiatry (, )

Karen Newman, MD; Adult Psychiatry (King Of Prussia, PA)

May Nguyen, MD; Family Medicine (Houston, TX)

Eliot Nierman, MD; Internal Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Carlos A Noguera, MD; Medical Oncology (Miami, FL)

David G. O'Day, MD; Ophthalmology (Mount Pleasant, SC)

Paula Oldego, MD; Emergency Medicine (SAINT LOUIS, MO)

Patricia Olivier, Retired RDH; Dental Hygienist (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

John Osland, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Forks, WA)

Koyejo Oyerinde, MD; Pediatrics (MINOT, ND)

Jo F Johnston Pasiuk, MD; General Surgery (Fond du Lac, WI)

Kenneth Pettine, MD; Spine Surgeon (Ft. Collins, CO)

Jody Pettit, MD; Internal Medicine (Portland, OR)

Geetha Pillai, MD; Internal Medicine (Lansdowne, VA)

Sally Pinkstaff, MD PhD; Endocrinology (Baltimore, MD)

Thomas Pullano, MD; Neonatology (Eastsound, WA)

Kwei Quartey, MD; Internal Medicine (Pasadena, CA)

Carmen Quinones, MD; PM&R (St thomas, NC)

Paul Rapoza, MD; Family Medicine (Rochester, NY)

Thomas Reinbold, DO; Internal Medicine (Springfield, MO)

Christin Reisenauer, MD; Radiologist (Moscow, ID)

Ivonne Reynolds, Do; Obgyn (Margate, FL)

Jung Rhee, MD; Anesthesiology (Westerville, OH)

Alfred Roberts, MD; Ophthalmology (Evergreen, CO)

Ellen Roberts, MD; Radiology (Mt Sterling, KY)

Rita Rock, PsyD, LP; Clinical Psychology (Maple Grove, MN)

Patrick Rock, MD; Family Practice (Minneapolis, MN)

Realba Rodriguez Iglesias, MD; Internal Medicine (Mount Vernon, NY)

Francois Rollin, MD/MPH; Internal Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Eliseo Rosario, MD; Pediatrics (Camphill, PA)

Elizabeth Rouse, MD; Family Practice (Louisville, KY)

Kevin Rowe, DO; Addiction Psychiatry (La Grange Park, IL)

Philip Rubin, MD; Family Practice (Sarasota, FL)

Valerie Ryan, MD; ER (Ft Pierce, FL)

Kim Sadlier, APRN; Geriatrics (Springfield, OH)

Louis Saeger, MD; Interventional Pain Management (Minneapolis, MN)

Kirsten Salmeen, MD; Maternal-Fetal Medicine, OB-GYN (San Francisco, CA)

David Saperstein, MD; Neurology (Phoenix, AZ)

Dianne Sawyer, MD; Ob/Gyn (Waco, TX)

Barry Schapiro, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Pompano Beach, FL)

Kimberly Scholfield, MD; Emergency Medicine (Hummelstown, PA)

Kelly Sennholz, MD; Emergency Medicine (Denver, CO)

Aparna Shah, MD; Allergy (Honolulu, HI)

Manisha Shah, MD; Internal Medicine (Lewis Center, OH)

Ali Shaibani, MD; Neurointerventional Surgery (Chicago, IL)

Eve Shapiro, MD; Pediatrics (Tucson, AZ)

Mike Shapiro, MD; Pulmonary and Critical Care (Carmel, IN)

Jeffrey Shaps, MD; Gastroenterology (Staten Island, NY)

Sheetal Sharma, MD; Internal Medicine (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Thomas Shim, MD; Pediatrics (Merrick, NY)

David Shumway, MD; Emergency Medicine (SMITHFIELD, NC)

George Shybut, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Houston, TX)

David Silbert, MD; Ophthalmology (Lancaster, PA)

Stefan Skalina, MD; Diagnostic Radiology (Springfield, PA)

Kate Skurski, DO; Family Medicine (Cascade Twp, MI)

Jonathan Smith, MD; Neurology (Scottsdale, AZ)

Rachael Smith, M3; Medical Student (Philadelphia, PA)

Leslie Solomon, RN; QA (Fleetwood, NC)

Andrew Solomon, MD; Rheumatology (Redmond, WA)

Robert Springer, MD; Pulmonary Critical Care (Waco, TX)

Gregory Stephens, DO; Otolaryngology (Grosse Ile, MI)

Nancy Sterling, MD; Anesthesiology (Norwalk, CT)

Joshua Strait, DO; Pediatrics (Tacoma, WA)

Amy Talley, MD; Emergency medicine (Phoenixville, PA)

James Taylor, Md; Internal Medicine (San Rafael, CA)

Dorothy Tiberii, DMD; Dentist (Sarasota, FL)

Emily Toch, MD, MS ; Psychiatry (Champaign, IL)

Darshan Tolat, MD; Nephrology (Conroe, CO)

Arthur Topoulos, MD; Vascular Medicine (Phoenixville, PA)

William Torch, MD, MS; Neurology, Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine (Adult/Child), (Reno, NV)

Tan Trinh, MD; Anesthesiology (Austin, TX)

Joy Tsai-Li, MD; PM&R (San Diego, CA)

Delano Tucker, PHD; Medical Adm for Health Disparities (Cheaspeake, VA)

Laura Vandenheede, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Show Low, AZ)

Naysha Varghese, MD; Family Practice (Sterling Heights, MI)

Srividya Venkataraman, MD; Family Medicine (Long Beach, CA)

Glenn Verbrugge, MD; General Surgery (Cadillac , MI)

Merceditas Villanueva, MD; Infectious Disease (New Haven, CT)

Richard von Buedingen, MD PhD; Urology (Batesburg, SC)

Stuart Wanuck, MD; Urology (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Cassandra Wanzo, MD; Psychiatry (Roswell, GA)

Therese Waters, PT; Physical Therapy (Traverse city, MI)

Andrew Weinberger, MD; Rheumatology (Orange, NJ)

Michael Weiss, MD; Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Hollywood, FL)

Thomas Welsh, MD; Internal Medicine (retired) (Madison, MS)

Walker Wynkoop, MD; Orthopedics (Sioux City, IA)

Jennifer Zimmerman, MD; Pediatrics (Pace, FL)

Gayla Zoghlin, MD; Family Practice (Bloomfield Hills, MI)

Stanley Zuba, MD; Pediatrics (Tavernier, FL)