Not All People In High-Risk Populations Need To Get Tested, Box Says

State Health Commissioner Kris Box has for weeks been urging people in high-risk populations – those 65 and older or with underlying health conditions – to get tested for COVID-19.

But Box also says that guidance doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone in those groups.

As Indiana added more COVID testing sites, it expanded the categories of people who could get tested. That eventually included people in high-risk groups, regardless of whether they showed symptoms.

But some folks in that population are worried about going out to get a test, especially at locations that aren’t drive-up. They argue that’s taking an unnecessary risk if they’re asymptomatic.

Box agrees.

“If you’ve been able to isolate at home, you don’t have to go out to work, you’re getting your groceries delivered, you don’t have individuals that are out in the public on a regular basis coming to see you or visit you – I don’t know why you would need to come out and do that at this point in time,” Box says.

But Box says high-risk folks who do have to go to work – or live with people who are going into work – should get tested, if possible.

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Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.