LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — 48-year-old Guido Mantilla was admitted to Sunrise hospital earlier this week with flu-like symptoms.
Despite experiencing shortness of breath, a sore throat, coughing and congestion, Mantilla said he tested negative for the flu, leaving him to believe he could have the coronavirus.
Mantilla said Sunrise Hospital doctors told him they did not have enough kits to administer a COVID-19 test.
Without a test Mantilla does not know his status and believes he could be infecting others.
13 Action News reached out to Sunrise Hospital to find out more information.
The hospital released this statement:
Using the established CDC criteria, we partner with Southern Nevada Health District and work with commercial labs to provide our inpatient testing.
Testing is limited to only those that screen and triage for a reasonable possibility of COVID-19 after other illness are excluded. Using CDC guidelines, if there is not a reasonable possibility of COVID-19, individuals should not be tested as we want to ensure the right resources reach those who need them most.
In addition to influenza, there are a number of other more common viral and bacterial diseases that need to be ruled out prior to COVID-19 testing. At this point, that state recommends immediate testing only for individuals whom it would change their course of treatment. Presumptively positive patients or patients under consideration are placed in appropriate precautions. The COVID-19 test is currently only available through commercial referenced laboratories whom we partner with to process the test and provide results.
Mantilla said Sunrise Hospital told him to go home and isolate himself.
