STATE TELLS HOSPITALS TO RAMP UP CORONAVIRUS TESTING

California has asked hospitals to ramp up their coronavirus testing amid a surge of new cases, urging them to test health care workers at least once per week while testing all new patients before admitting them. Statewide, 75% of intensive-care beds are filled and state officials expect to reach capacity by mid-December. The California Department of Public Health sent hospitals a letter last week that “strongly recommends” they test their employees at least once a week, defining workers as all paid and unpaid people who have the “potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients.” The broad definition includes doctors, nurses, students, volunteers, security, laundry and administrative workers, among others.