Health group will not say how many samples they have sent to CDC

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JOINS US IN STUDIO NOW, AND MARY CATE WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THESE SAMPLES? THEY WON'T SAY HOW MANY SAMPLES HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE CDC'S LAB TO BE TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS---- LAST MONTH ON TEST WAS SENT THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE. BUT WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPANDING GUIDELINES TODAY FOR WHO CAN AND SHOULD GIVE SAMPELS IT'S LIKELY MORE PEOPLE IN MAINE COULD BE TESTED IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. 10:12:11 DORA MILLS "BECAUSE THE US CDC HAS EXPANDED THE CRITERIA FOR WHO SHOULD BE TESTED PEOPLE MAY EXPECT TO HEAR MORE PEOPLE TESTED THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS A LOT OR MORE HERE IN MAINE IT ALSO DOESN'T MEAN EVERYONE SHOULD BE TESTED." WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE EARLY JANUARY AND WANTED TO SHARE ANSWERS FROM EXPERTS ON SOME OF THE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS STARTING WITH THE NEW TESTING KITS. HOW MANY TEST KITS ARE AVAILABLE? CDC SAYS THEY ARE NOW SENDING 2500 TEST KITS BEING SENT TO LABS IN EVERY STATE. EACH KIT CAN TEST ROUGHLY 700-800 PATIENT SPECIMENS. WHO WILL PAY FOR THESE TESTS? AS OF TODAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CLASSIFIED THE TESTS AS AN ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFIT MEANING THEY WILL NOW BE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. IF I THINK I HAVE COVID 19 WHAT SHOULD I DO? EARLY SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS INCLUDE A FEVER, DRY COUGH AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. IF YOU HAVE SEVERE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR DOCTOR, THEY CAN TAK INFORMATION AND MAKE A DECISION FROM THERE. IT IS ALSO FLU SEASON AND THE EARLY SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THE FLU. AS FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS VIRUS IS SPREAD THROUGH DROPLETS WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE SO KEEPING GOOD HYGIENE AND WASHING YOUR

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MaineHealth has begun testing for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. A spokesperson for the medical group tells WMTW it has sent samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but will not say how many samples have been sent. "As part of our ongoing coronavirus preparedness efforts, MaineHealth has expanded our guidelines for surveilling, testing and monitoring new and admitted patients to align with CDC guidelines. This broader criteria, specifically patients with respiratory ailments of unknown origin, has naturally increased the number of patients who qualify for testing," MaineHealth Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joan Boomsma said in a statement."Currently samples are being ordered through the federal CDC; no results have been returned. Any positive cases will be closely coordinated with state and federal health officials," she said.Last month, a test from a Maine patient came back negative.The federal government expanded guidelines Wednesday for who can and should submit samples for testing. With this expansion, more people in Maine could be tested in the coming days and weeks."Because the U.S. CDC has expanded the criteria for who should be tested, people may expect to hear more people tested. That doesn't mean there is a lot or more here in Maine; it also doesn't mean everyone should be tested." said Dr. Dora Mills with MaineHealth.Maine has not had a recorded case of COVID-19 and health experts say the state is at low risk for the virus."While we are focused on ensuring our capacity to care for patients is continuous and in line with evidence-based practices, we urge community members to be informed for their own health. Individuals should practice good hand hygiene, monitor state and federal CDC updates and take appropriate measures if they are sick, such as calling their physician’s office first if they are not feeling well," Boomsma said.Symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Anyone with symptoms is asked to call their doctor. Health officials encourage everyone to be extra diligent with flu prevention habits, including hand washing, muffling coughs and sneezes, and staying home when you aren't feeling well.