Coronavirus Testing In California: What's Taking So Long?

CALIFORNIA — More than a month after California confirmed its first cases of the new coronavirus, the nation's most populous state had still tested fewer than 9,000 people for the virus as of this week. Test shortages in California, which mirror nationwide trends, have been caused by a number of factors — although officials are hoping to step up testing significantly in coming weeks.

Officially, California has 335 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including six deaths. But the inability to test everyone who has symptoms means that the true number is likely far higher.

Failing to test for COVID-19 is a major obstacle in the way of tracking and containing the disease. The U.S. has tested at a much lower rate than other countries that have seen outbreaks, like the United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea and China, where the virus began.

In California, 19 labs are currently testing for the coronavirus. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday that he hopes the state can quickly grow its testing capacity — in part through a new website, created in partnership with the tech company Verily, that will screen people with symptoms and direct them to nearby testing centers.

A Quest Lab in San Juan Capistrano, currently conducting about 1,200 tests per day, will soon be joined by two more labs that will do more than 5,000 tests per day, Newsom said Sunday.

New testing sites will open in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and later expand around the state, Newsom said, although no timeframe was provided. Medical centers at five University of California hospitals, as well as universities like Stanford, have also been testing for the virus.

One initial cause of the shortage was a set of faulty test kits that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out to state labs last month, which returned inconclusive results. And until the end of February, the federal government did not allow labs to use tests they'd created themselves, until the FDA changed its guidelines.

It's also been hard for labs to get their hands on samples of the virus and lab equipment that they need to develop a test.

Finally, critics have accused President Donald Trump of downplaying the threat posed by the virus until it was too late, questioning his repeated claims that the virus was already "under control" in the U.S.

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Now, the virus is unquestionably spreading, and California is taking dramatic steps to slow it. On Sunday, Newsom ordered bars to close and asked senior citizens to stay inside. One day later, Bay Area officials put six counties under a "shelter in place" order, shuttering businesses and forcing residents to leave their homes only for "essential" travel.

Still, other shortages may be looming. Experts may soon run short on some testing supplies, while healthcare workers fear they will run out of personal protective equipment, CalMatters reported.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, California health officials ask you to stay home and call your doctor or local public health department.

More coronavirus coverage:

• California Coronavirus: Live Updates On Cases, Updates, Closures
• Coronavirus: 'Shelter In Place' Order Issued For Much Of Bay Area
• All CA Bars Ordered Closed, Seniors Home Amid Coronavirus Crisis