San Francisco launches coronavirus testing: 'We expect to have confirmed cases'

A CDC laboratory test kit for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). CDC is shipping the test kits to laboratories CDC has designated as qualified, including U.S. state and local public health laboratories, Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories and select international laboratories. The test kits are bolstering global laboratory capacity for detecting 2019-nCov. less A CDC laboratory test kit for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). CDC is shipping the test kits to laboratories CDC has designated as qualified, including U.S. state and local public health laboratories, ... more Photo: Centers For Disease Control And, TNS Photo: Centers For Disease Control And, TNS Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close San Francisco launches coronavirus testing: 'We expect to have confirmed cases' 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

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San Francisco Mayor London Breed held a news conference Monday announcing preparations for potential community spread of COVID-19 and a new plan for local testing in the city.

Up until now, tests were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and the turnaround time was three to seven days. This morning, the San Francisco Department of Public Health began testing in city labs with one-day turnaround time.

Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco's director of health, said doctors will still need to contact the city health department, which will consult the CDC to determine whether coronavirus testing is necessary.

“As the situation changes rapidly in the Bay Area and on the West Coast, we expect to have confirmed cases in San Francisco and are preparing for community spread of the virus,” said Colfax. “It’s not a matter of if but when. The Health Department will prioritize protecting the populations that are most vulnerable to becoming very sick or dying if they get COVID-19. That includes the elderly and people with chronic diseases and underlying health conditions.”

On-demand testing isn't available at this time and test kits are limited, Colfax added. He encouraged residents of San Francisco to take preventative measures to reduce spread, including washing hands, covering coughs, getting a flu shot and staying home if you're sick.

Colfax couldn't provide a timeline for when he expects the virus to become more widespread. "There have been cases of what appears to be community spread," he said. "We are starting testing locally today, and I suspect we’ll detect cases relatively soon."

ALSO: Live updates: A rundown of coronavirus cases in the Bay Area

U.S. health officials updated the number of COVID-19 cases to 91 in 10 states after Oregon and Illinois announced new diagnoses. Seattle officials announced four more deaths, bringing the total in the U.S. to six.

California has recorded about 40 cases of COVID-19; the cases are a combination of people from repatriation flights and those identified by local public health departments.

The number of coronavirus patients in the United States is considered small. But convinced that they will grow, health agencies are ramping up efforts to identify those who might be sick.

To achieve more rapid testing capacity, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an accelerated policy Saturday enabling laboratories to use tests they develop. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said his agency is "rapidly responding and adapting to this dynamic and evolving situation.”

The CDC recently broadened its guidelines for who should be tested for the new virus to include people with symptoms but without a travel history to virus hot zones.

More testing will bring more confirmed cases, experts said, but they cautioned that does not mean the virus is gaining speed. Instead, the testing is likely to reveal a picture of the virus' spread that was previously invisible.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.

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