Table 2.

Priorities for PCR testing of suspected COVID-19 patients according to CDC guidelines [18]

Priority 1 Ensure optimal care options for all hospitalized patients, lessen the risk of nosocomial infections, and maintain the integrity of the healthcare system	• Hospitalized patients • Symptomatic healthcare workers
Priority 2 Ensure that those who are at highest risk of complication of infection are rapidly identified and appropriately triaged	• Patients in long-term care facilities with symptoms • Patients 65 years of age and older with symptoms • Patients with underlying conditions with symptoms • First responders with symptoms
Priority 3 As resources allow, test individuals in the surrounding community of rapidly increasing hospital cases to decrease community spread, and ensure health of essential workers	• Critical infrastructure workers with symptoms • Individuals who do not meet any of the above categories with symptoms • Healthcare workers and first responders • Individuals with mild symptoms in communities experiencing high 2019-nCoV hospitalizations
Non-priority	• Individuals without symptoms