HEALTH

Former Gov. Leavitt: not everyone will be able to be tested for coronavirus

UPDATED: APRIL 1, 2020 AT 1:21 PM

Picture by Chris Samuels, KSL file

BY HEATHER KELLY
KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt says not everyone can be tested for coronavirus, even if they want to be.

The former governor and former head of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush told KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic Wednesday there still aren’t enough tests.

“What we’re hearing and reading and experiencing nationally is that there will be some limits in our capacity to test, not just because of the production of test kits, but because of the materials that go into the tests,” Leavitt said. “They’re called reagents. There’s a limited supply of them and they’re under demand from all over the world. That’s the thing about a pandemic is that it really stresses all of the supply lines for things that we take for granted.”

In other words, Leavitt said, there simply aren’t enough tests to go around, so medical professionals have to prioritize who gets them.

“The most important thing is that people who are seriously sick become tested,” he added.

Leavitt told hosts Dave Noriega and Debbie Dujanovic our society is the most important thing to keep together. But, he added, right now, that means we need to stay away from each other.

Leavitt said in order to keep healthy those who still must go to work — health care workers, police, grocery store employees, etc. — everyone else needs to do their part.

He says as a society, we need to maintain proper distance from each other, and that comes down to each and everyone of us taking responsibility for our roles. Just because you may not have symptoms of coronavirus, or aren’t very sick, does not mean you can ignore isolation restrictions.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus is transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.