無症状接触者の検査指針、米ＣＤＣが説明なく一転　ファウチ氏関知せず？

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】新型コロナウイルス感染症（COVID-19）の症状がなくても感染者と接触した場合は検査を受けるよう推奨してきた米疾病対策センター（CDC）が突如、見解を一変させ、「無症状なら必ずしも検査を受ける必要はない」と指針を修正した。方針転換の理由や根拠は説明されていない。（写真は資料写真）
　ＣＤＣのウェブサイトに掲載されたコロナ指針がひそかに変更されたのは、２４日。折しも米メディアでは、コロナ対策へのホワイトハウスの政治的介入が報じられていた。
　ＣＤＣの指針では、これまで「無症状や発症前の人からも感染する恐れがあるため、ＳＡＲＳ-ＣｏＶ-２（新型コロナウイルス）感染者との接触者を直ちに特定し、検査を行うことが重要だ」と説明していた。だが、現在は「感染者と１５分以上の濃厚接触（約１メートル以内）があっても、症状がなければ、感染リスクの高い人または医師・公衆衛生当局から推奨された人以外は、必ずしも検査を受ける必要はない」となっている。
　ブレット・ジロワー厚生省次官補は記者団に対し、指針変更に至った新たな証拠は明らかにしないまま、「（コロナ対策）タスクフォースの助言を受けている」と説明。変更後の文書は、米国立アレルギー感染症研究所（ＮＩＡＩＤ）のアンソニー・ファウチ所長らも確認したと述べた。
　だが、ファウチ氏は米ＣＮＮの取材で、これを否定。２０日に声帯ポリープの切除手術を受けていたことを明かし、「私は手術室で全身麻酔をかけられていた。新たな検査指針に関する議論や審議には一切、関与していない」と言明した。
　ファウチ氏は、新指針によって「無症状者の増加は大した問題ではないと、人々が誤った思い込みをしてしまうのではないか心配だ」と述べている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/08/27-14:37）

After previously encouraging people without symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested if they have been exposed to someone who tested positive, US health authorities have abruptly reversed their position without a clear explanation.
The changes in guidance were quietly made to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday amid reports in the US media of political interference from the White House.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the US should do less testing, and blamed testing for making it appear as though the country is doing poorly against the pandemic.
This is not true. Though the US is testing at a high level, that is because its outbreak is worse than any other country in the world, with more than 5.8 million confirmed cases and almost 180,000 deaths.
The CDC's site previously said: Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested.
The site now says: If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms, you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one.
In a statement to CNN, senior health department official Brett Giroir said: This Guidance has been updated to reflect current evidence and best public health practices, and to further emphasize using CDC-approved prevention strategies to protect yourself, your family, and the most vulnerable of all ages.
But the health department did not say how the evidence has changed.
The CDC has previously said that between 40-50 percent of people with Covid-19 are asymptomatic and therefore getting testing is important to stop the spread.
Health experts reacted with dismay.
I still can't make sense of @CDCgov change in guidance, tweeted Dr Leana Wen, a professor at George Washington University.
An estimated 40-50% of people with #covid19 are asymptomatic. Those exposed to the virus need to know to protect their family members & the public. One has to wonder: is this change because we don't have enough tests?
Both the New York Times and CNN quote officials saying that the CDC was instructed to change its guidelines following pressure from the president.
The Trump administration has previously been accused of pressuring the CDC to change its guidance on reopening schools, weighting its recommendations heavily in favor of in-person learning.
The political neutrality of the Food and Drug Administration was also questioned this week when its chief Stephen Hahn joined Trump in misrepresenting a key statistic about the effectiveness of blood plasma.
He later apologized.