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Nebraska health officials: Doctors may diagnose COVID-19 based on symptoms, without test Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ALEXANDRA STONE IS LIVE WITH THE CONCERN. ALEXANDRA: DR. LINSEY HADEN SAYS BECAUSE OF CURRENT LIMITATIONS ON COVID-19 TESTING, WE CAN’T KNOW THE SCOPE OF THE OUTBREAK IN NEBRASKA. AND SHE SAYS NOT ONLY ARE TESTS IN SHORT SUPPLY, OTHER CRITICAL MATERIALS, ARE TOO -- MATERIALS ARE, TOO. DR. LINSEY HADEN WITH LINCOLN FAMILY MEDICAL GROUP CALLS THE PROCESS FOR COVID-19 TESTING COMPLICATED. >> NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN GET TESTED. WE ARE FINDING IN OUR CLINIC THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CONDSISTENT WITH COVID-19, BUT DON’T MEET ANY QUALIFIER FOR THE TESTING. ALEXANDRA: HADEN SAYS TESTING IS GOING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY SICK OR MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, LIKE A RELEVANT TRAVEL HISTORY. IN ORDER TO USE TESTS THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAB, HER OFFICE HAS TO GET APPROVAL, AND HADEN SAYS THEY’VE HAD AT LEAST FIVE PATIENTS TURNED DOWN FOR TESTING BY THE HEALTH DEPARMENT. >> WE’RE BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NOBODY IN LANCASTER COUNT THAT IS POSITIVE, BUT WE ARE TESTING THOSE WHO ARE SUPER SICK AND MISSING A WHOLE LARGE PORTION OF PEOPL IF YOU ASK ANY PHYSICIAN, IT IS IN THE COMMUNITY. ALEXANDRA: OFFICIALS HERE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY ADDRESSED COVID-19 TESTING WEDNESDAY. >> TESTING IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHO IS AT HIGHEST RISK. MAYOR STOTHERT: THE TESTS ARE STILL LIMITED, AND THAT’S WHY THE CRITERIA STILL STANDS, I -- EVEN IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL, WE ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND YOU STAY HOME. ALEXANDRA: GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS SAYS THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAB, UNMC, AND PRIVATE INDUSTRIES ARE WORKING TO INCREASE TESTING CAPACITY, AND -- GOV. RICKETTS: WE ARE LOOKING AT PLANS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE SOUTH KOREA AND SOME STATES HAVE DONE WITH REGARDS TO DRIVE UP TESTING. WE WILL IMPLEMENT AS WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO SO. ALEXANDRA: HADEN SAYS SOME PATIENTS MAY NEVER SHOW SYMPTOMS, SO SOCIAL DISTANCE IS YOUR BEST OPTION. >> PEOPLE JUST NEED TO STAY HOME. ALEXANDRA: HADEN SAYS THEY ARE RULING OUT OTHER ILLNESSES FIRST, RUNNING TESTS FOR INFLUENZA AND OTHER VIRUSES BEFORE RECOMMEDNING COVID-19 TESTING, BUT THOSE TESTS ARE ALSO IN SHORT SUPPLY. SHE ADDS OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS LIKE SWABS USED FOR THE COVID-19 TESTING AND THE RE-AGENT KIT USED TO SEND THEM OFF AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUI