Kilmer, Murray call on CDC to send out rapid test kits

One confirmed case involves Washington state resident

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and Sen. Patty Murray have led 48 other lawmakers to have the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distribute rapid diagnostic tests to state and local health officials in states with confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

The letter written and signed by Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Murray, D-Seattle, was addressed to Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the CDC’s director.

The letter acknowledges the CDC’s leadership in addressing the coronavirus, which began in Wuhan, China.

While the risk of the disease spreading in the United States is low, according to the CDC, Kilmer and Murray agree with the assessment that local and state health jurisdictions need to have the tools available to detect and react to confirmed cases.

The legislators urged the CDC to prioritize those areas, of which Washington state is one.

“CDC’s response to this outbreak underscores the critical role it plays in protecting public health. Furthermore, it is a notable scientific achievement that CDC was able to develop a rapid diagnostic test for this novel virus just one week after publication of the viral genome sequence.

“This test has enabled health officials across the country to distinguish positive cases of this novel virus from other respiratory illnesses, allowing them to isolate patients to prevent further spread of the virus and deploy their resources where they are needed most,” read the letter.

Currently, any patient samples are taken to Atlanta to be tested by the CDC.

The letter stipulated that the amount of time it takes to ship the samples and have them tested drastically increases the time it takes for local and state health officials to confirm cases, increasing the likelihood of spread.

“As the number of suspected cases rises, this will become an unsustainable bottleneck in the diagnostic pipeline that could hinder efforts to stop the spread of this disease. Therefore, CDC must continue to work quickly to distribute the rapid diagnostic test to state and local health official,” the letter says.

More in News

Port Angeles teachers’ union votes to honor paraeducators’ picket line on April 8

Members of the Port Angeles Education Association voted overwhelmingly… Continue reading

Funding needed for Port Townsend homeless shelter

Operation at Legion Hall to close April 30

Port of Port Angeles renews lease for Composite Recycling Technology Center

Agreement covers 26,000 square feet at airport business park

Fire district volunteers lauded

Clallam County Fire District No. 3 recently recognized seven members… Continue reading

Clallam to continue providing deputy to Forks

Contract includes wages, mileage and maintenance reimbursement

Maintenance closes section of Olympic Discovery Trail

A portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail is closed… Continue reading

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif., members of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and working with the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board, remove poisonous hemlock weed from along the Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend on Monday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Poison hemlock removal in Port Townsend

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif.,… Continue reading

YMCA to build childcare facility

$1-2M still needed for $6.7M project

Port Townsend Police Department recognizes award recipients

The Port Townsend Police Department recognized officers, employees, volunteers… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School evacuated due to bomb threat

Nothing suspicious found, principal says

A tree that has grown out of its tree box and shattered a nearby curb and sidewalk in the 100 block of North Oak Street is among those targeted for removal and replacement in downtown Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles tree and sidewalk replacement to begin Monday

The Port Angeles downtown tree and sidewalk replacement project… Continue reading

Grant for Forks treatment plant to be discussed

The Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board will discuss… Continue reading