Interim Guidance on Testing for SARS-CoV-2 before Non-Urgent Surgical, Dental, and Diagnostic Procedures
During the COVID-19 epidemic in Alameda County, urgent medical and dental procedures have continued in both outpatient and inpatient settings. On May 13, 2020, the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) released a Health Advisory encouraging medical and dental providers gradually to resume non-urgent clinical services, with several important caveats.
While there is active transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Alameda County, ACPHD recommends that facilities, medical, and dental providers implement policies and strategies that include screening of all patients for symptoms of COVID-19 and selective preprocedural testing of patients undergoing non-emergent surgical, dental, or diagnostic procedures that may involve intubation or the generation of biological aerosols.