CDC releases reopening guidance after delay

Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi, Alexis Christoforous, and Anjalee Khemlani break down the latest coronavirus news.

Video Transcript

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: Latest on the coronavirus-- there are over 4.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally. The number of deaths has now eclipsed 300,000. In the US alone, there are over 1.4 million confirmed cases, which has killed nearly 86,000 people.

Anjalee Khemlani is joining us this Friday morning. And Anjalee, I am looking at Abbott Labs right now, down about 2 and 1/4% here in the premarket. It is changing the instructions for its COVID-19 tests for the second time now. What are the implications here? What's going on?

ANJALEE KHEMLANI: Yeah, so that's the result of something that has actually been previously reported, which is questions about the accuracy of their rapid test. That's the one that's right there with the individual's point of care, and the one that has kind of been looked at as a potential to be used as we open and reopen workplaces. And it has been procured in large quantities by local, state, as well as the federal government.

So there's a lot of questions about the false negatives that are there, and what that could mean. So they are trying to figure out how to make it more usable in that care setting, and in that on-site setting. And that's something that plays a role in what the FDA has to look at, and look for, as we go forward, as we're trying to get more easily processed tests for the diagnostic side.

We also know that antibody tests are playing a role in all of this. But as of right now, whether or not that rapid test can continue to be used is the question, Alexis.

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: And I think we've all been waiting for this one, Anjalee-- the CDC out with a checklist for schools and businesses to follow in order to reopen. What is the agency saying?

ANJALEE KHEMLANI: Right, so this is actually not the full guidelines that we're still waiting for. This is sort of a place holder, if you will. Definitely releasing some sort of graphics and information, basic information on what is the best thing to do as schools and businesses start to look at what the options are for reopening? And that includes what we all know-- washing hands, social distancing, making sure that everyone is comfortably seated or placed apart, signages, and links to further resources, or offering resources, and increased cleaning-- all of the things that have been questions and concerns from the beginning.

Meanwhile, we're still waiting. We heard from Dr. Redfield this week that the reports about a more robust CDC guideline that would be shelved is actually still in the process, and could possibly still come out. Alexis?

ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS: All right, Anjalee, thanks for that.