Transcript
Testing remains a major problem in the battle against coronavirus as hospitals grapple with a shortage of test kits and long wait times for results.
This reality is particularly dangerous for healthcare workers.
CNN spoke with a New York nurse who struggled to get tested and worked for a week while infected.
The nurse says she worked at two hospitals in New York City while infected with the coronavirus.
She says she doesn’t want to reveal her name or where she works for fear she’ll be fired.
The nurse says that a few weeks ago she was experiencing back pain and really bad chest pain.
But she went undetected because the hospital wasn’t testing the staff.
The nurse said she wore the same gown and mask all day patient to patient.
She says since emergency room refused to test staff she went there in the middle of the night when she knew her friend would be on duty.
It took five days for the results to come back.
She tested positive.
She says she’s worried she’s infected staff members, visitors and patients.
Fortunately she’s feeling better now and is in isolation at home.
In addition to testing kits, personal protective equipment and ventilators are also in short supply in the US.
Posted – 4.2.20