Mass. health lab given approval to test for coronavirus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given approval to the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory to begin testing patients for COVID-19, the state health department announced Friday.

© File Image Coronavirus

The approval means any clinicians who have patients they think may have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, can contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to discuss their patients and receive authorization to submit specimens for testing.

State health officials said the approval will allow test results to be obtained faster.

The anticipated turnaround of test results from the state lab will take 24 hours, depending on testing volume, officials said.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include a fever, cough and shortness of breath and

in severe cases, pneumonia.

There has been one confirmed case of the coronavirus in Massachusetts. State health officials said that patient was showing positive signs of recovery.

The state department of public health said they would release updated statewide monitoring data weekly, beginning Wednesday, March 4.

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