A California nurse says a lack of coronavirus tests for health care workers on the front lines of the crisis is putting caregivers and patients at risk.

“As a nurse, I’m very concerned that not enough is being done to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” wrote the unidentified health care worker in a statement released Thursday through the National Nurses United and California Nurses Association unions.

“I know because I am currently sick and in quarantine after caring for a patient who tested positive.”

The nurse, identified only as an employee of an unspecified Kaiser Permanente facility in northern California, said troubles began when they recently cared for a confirmed coronavirus patient.

“I did this because I had all the recommended protective gear and training from my employer,” the nurse wrote. “I did this assuming that if something happened to me, of course, I too would be cared for.”

But then a few days passed and the nurse started getting sick.

They were put on a 14-day self-quarantine and, based on the nurse’s symptoms, a doctor and county officials agreed that the nurse should be tested.

“But the National CDC [Centers for Disease Control] would not initiate testing,” the nurse said. “They said they would not test me because if I were wearing the recommended protective equipment, then I wouldn’t have the coronavirus.

“What kind of science-based answer is that? What a ridiculous and uneducated response from the department that is in charge of our health in this country.”

The nurse eventually got the test but was then told by CDC officials that there was a delay in processing the results.

“They claim they prioritize running samples by illness severity and that there are only so many to give out each day,” the nurse said. “So I have to wait in line to find out the results.”

“This is not a ticket dispenser at the deli counter; it’s a public health emergency! I am a registered nurse, and I need to know if I am positive before going back to caring for patients.”

The nurse closed with a warning that not prioritizing tests for health care workers could come back to hurt the larger population.

“I am appalled at the level of bureaucracy that’s preventing nurses from getting tested,” wrote the caregiver. “Nurses aren’t going to stand by and let this testing delay continue; we are going to stand together to make sure we can protect our patients — by being protected ourselves.”

Fifty-one coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Golden State, including one of 12 deaths nationwide.

Map of coronavirus cases in the US