Statement from Vincent Lafronza, Ed.D., M.S., NNPHI President and CEO

August 27, 2020
Washington, DC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: communications@nnphi.org

The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) joins the American Public Health Association (APHA) in expressing our grave concerns regarding the recently revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that is expected to reduce COVID-19 testing for individuals who are asymptomatic. Many public health institutes across the nation are actively supporting state, local, and tribal governmental public health agencies that are implementing contact tracing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Successful contact tracing programs depend on testing to identify and isolate individuals who have active infections.

As proposed, CDC’s revised testing guidance will result in more virus transmission and more lives lost from a virus with no available vaccine. Reductions in testing will also hamper effective reopening processes underway in schools, colleges and universities, and other important and essential venues that will help communities get back to normal and safe operations. We join the national public health community in requesting a valid and scientific rationale for this policy change that may result in more lives lost.

To learn more about NNPHI, visit www.nnphi.org.

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ABOUT NNPHI:

With offices in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, and staff located in Atlanta, NNPHI is the official organization that represents more than 40 member public health institutes, affiliate members, and emerging institutes in over 30 states spanning all ten Department of Health and Human Services regions. NNPHI and its member institutes are nongovernmental organizations that implement public health policy and program initiatives throughout all 50 states. Additionally, our network offers public health programming in the U.S. territories and Indian Country. Together, our highly sophisticated network reflects more than $1.4 billion in annual funding and connects 8,000 subject matter experts with partners across the nation.

Our Mission: Support national public health system initiatives and strengthen public health institutes to promote multi-sector activities resulting in measurable improvements of public health structures, systems, and outcomes.