CDC Telebriefing on 2019-nCoV 2/5/20 - 12:15 PM ET

[niman]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an update to media on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus response.  

[niman]

Media Advisory                                                                     

 

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

 

Contact: CDC Media Relations

(404) 639-3286

 

CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

 

What               The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an update to media on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus response.  

 

Who                Nancy Messonnier, M.D., Director,

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

 

RADM Denise Hinton, Chief Scientist

                        Food and Drug Administration

 

When              12:15 p.m. ET Wednesday, February 5, 2020

 

Dial-In  

 

Media: 800-857-9756

International: 1-212-287-1647          

PASSCODE: CDC MEDIA

 

Non-Media: 888-795-0855

International: 1-630-395-0498          

PASSCODE: 2684824

 

Important Instructions 
Due to anticipated high volume, please plan to dial in to the telebriefing 15 minutes before the start time.

 

Media: If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

 

TRANSCRIPT
A transcript will be available following the briefing at CDC’s web site: www.cdc.gov/media.

[niman]

11 confirmed positive cases (no new positives)

testing pending on 76 PUI

diagnostics shipping to 100 labs

enhanced capacity by next week

[niman]

Four plane loads of Americans arriving (as described in press release)

Some nCoV positives expected

Influenza Pandemic preparation applies to nCoV

800 working at CDC alone on Pandemic response

Looking at supply chains for PPEs

 

 

[Food Assets]

There are stories (in the Taiwan news) that Tencent is mis-reporting the "real" figures:

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3871594

According to this source, the real number of deaths on February 1, 2020 was 24,589, with over 154,000 actual confirmed cases (these figures are from 4 - 5 days ago).

And allegedly, this type of "reporting" accident has happened at least three other times (reporting far higher numbers, only to take them quickly down).

What is really going on in China? Who's numbers can be trusted?

[niman]

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Thursday, February 6, 2020                                                                                                                         

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

 

Shipping of CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic Test Kits Begins

Distribution of CDC Diagnostic Test Kits Will Expand Laboratory Capacity to Detect 2019-nCoV

 

A CDC-developed laboratory test kit to detect 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) began shipping yesterday to select qualified U.S. and international laboratories. Distribution of the tests will help improve the global capacity to detect and respond to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The test kit, called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC 2019-nCoV Real Time RT-PCR), is designed for use with an existing RT-PCR testing instrument that is commonly used to test for seasonal influenza.

The CDC 2019 novel coronavirus test is intended for use with upper and lower respiratory specimens collected from people who meet CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing. The test uses a technology that can provide results in four hours from initial sample processing to result.

“Our goal is early detection of new cases and toprevent further spread of the coronavirus,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “Distribution of these diagnostic tests to state laboratories, U.S. government partners and more broadly to the global public health community will accelerate efforts to confront this evolving global public health challenge.”

The test kit has not been FDA cleared or approved, however distribution and use of the test kits follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) February 4, 2020, issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization(EUA). The tests are being shipped through theInternational Reagent Resource (IRR), a CDC-established mechanism that distributes laboratory reagents domestically and globally.

Initially, about 200 test kits will be distributed to U.S. domestic laboratories and a similar amount will be distributed to select international laboratories. Each test kit can test approximately 700 to 800 patient specimens. Additional test kits will be produced and made available for ordering in the future from the IRR. At this time, each laboratory that places an order will receive one 2019-nCoV test kit. 

The IRR is accepting orders for 2019-nCoV tests from qualified laboratories. This includes 115 qualified U.S. laboratories, such as state and local public health laboratories and Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories, as well as 191 qualified international laboratories, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Response System (GISRS) laboratories. 

This test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of 2019-nCoV under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

Check the CDC website for the latest information and guidance on 2019-nCoV. The CDC will continue to update its guidance as the 2019-nCoV situation evolves. 

For additional information, visit CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/