COVID-19 Update for New York City

Outpatient testing must not be encouraged, promoted or advertised.

Persons with COVID-like illness not requiring hospitalization should be instructed to stay home. It is safer for the patients and health care workers and testing does not currently change clinical management or recommendations about staying home.

Hospital systems may create alternate testing venues to offload their emergency departments.

This minimizes risk of transmission to others, especially healthcare workers (HCWs)

There is a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), collection swabs, and viral transport media supplies and it is critical that laboratory testing be prioritized for hospitalized patients

There is no reason to test asymptomatic persons or mild-to-moderately ill persons who are not hospitalized, including HCW or first responders

Testing may play a more significant role after the pandemic has peaked

PRESERVE PPE for HCWs providing medically necessary care for hospitalized patients

Like other jurisdictions with general community transmission of COVID-19, New York City (NYC) is facing a critical shortage of PPE

PPE stockpile supplies in NYC are extremely limited and must be released based on strict criteria to preserve healthcare functions

Refer to NYC Health Department and CDC guidance on crisis strategies for preserving

Be aware of new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved measures to preserve PPE supply

There is no reliable data that use of NSAIDS or ACE inhibiters for patients with COVID-19 like illness is harmful