Coronavirus: CDC mistakenly releases US patient
'The fact that the CDC allowed the public to be exposed to a patient with a positive COVID-19 reading is unacceptable'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A patient who was released from a Texas facility operated by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) later tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus, it has been claimed.
Ron Nirenberg, the mayor of San Antonio, revealed the news and suggested the development may have caused the public to be exposed to the mysterious virus.
“Today we learned that the CDC mistakenly released a patient from the Texas Center for Infectious Disease who later returned a positive COVID-19 reading”, the mayor wrote.
He added: “The fact that the CDC allowed the public to be exposed to a patient with a positive COVID-19 reading is unacceptable.”
The new coronavirus was reportedly responsible for at least two deaths in the US and more than 3,000 worldwide — the majority of those occurring in China, where the virus was believed to have originated at a market in Wuhan.
The patient in question had reportedly met guidelines required to be released from the San Antonio Texas Centre for Infection Disease, including two negative test results for the coronavirus.
Following their return to the medical facility, the patient tested positive for COVID-19 — the official name for the Wuhan coronavirus — and was placed back into isolation.
The CDC said in a statement that local officials have been “tracking” where the patient went during their release, including “who they interacted with, timeframes outside the federally ordered quarantine and who may have been exposed”.
Mr Nirenberg also said that his office would “hold the CDC accountable” to ensure the centre releases more information about the patient to the public, adding: “I have asked the CDC to do everything in their power to ensure that those who are released pose no risk to the community”.
The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments