Table 1.

Recommended nuclear cardiology practices when COVID-19 cases are high or rapidly rising in a community

Restrict visitors in the nuclear cardiology laboratory

Provide screening questionnaires, temperature screening, and frequent COVID-19 testing for all patients, and PPE for all patients and staff

Vasodilator stress rather than exercise for the majority of patients with the understanding that exercise testing, when needed, can be performed safely

For patients who benefit from testing with exercise, routine use of rapid COVID-19 testing and enhanced PPE should be available

Strong preference for PET MPI over SPECT MPI when pharmacologic stress is planned, and PET is available

Restriction of testing to the highest priority patients when the case rates are extremely high, hospital resources are overwhelmed, or staffing shortages are extreme