Exclusive | NYC health officials missed early COVID spread by following CDC bureaucrats: ‘Possibility we could have saved lives’

Missed Opportunities: How New York City’s Health Department Failed to Detect COVID-19 Early

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in public health systems worldwide, and New York City was no exception. According to Don Weiss, a former surveillance director at the NYC Department of Health, the city’s Health Department missed a critical opportunity to detect the virus early due to its strict adherence to CDC guidelines. Weiss, who monitored the situation from the ground, reveals in his book Disease Detectives: True Stories of NYC Outbreaks that the CDC’s rigid testing criteria delayed the confirmation of COVID-19 cases in NYC by over a month. This delay, he argues, cost countless lives and allowed the virus to spread unchecked in the early days of the pandemic.

CDC Guidelines and the Limited Testing Criteria

Weiss explains that the CDC’s testing guidelines in early 2020 were overly restrictive. Testing was limited to individuals who had recently traveled to Wuhan, China, or other high-risk areas, had severe lower respiratory symptoms, or had been exposed to a confirmed case. Many New Yorkers who contracted COVID-19 in the early stages exhibited mild, flu-like symptoms and did not meet these criteria, meaning they were not tested. As a result, the city remained unaware of the virus’s presence, even as it spread silently among residents. “By following the CDC’s strict criteria for testing, we were missing cases,” Weiss writes, emphasizing that the failure to expand testing earlier meant the city was blind to the growing threat.

The Consequences of Delayed Detection

The consequences of this delayed detection were dire. Without early identification of cases, the city could not launch timely public health campaigns to warn residents about the dangers of COVID-19. Masks, social distancing, and quarantine measures could have been implemented earlier, potentially saving lives. Weiss points out that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, were particularly at risk during this period. He recalls a specific case in Brooklyn in late January 2020, where a ride-share driver with underlying health conditions was not tested for COVID-19 despite his severe symptoms. The man later died from COVID-related complications in May 2021. Weiss believes that earlier detection and action could have spared many lives.

A Frustrated Health Department and the Fight for Expanded Testing

Weiss and his team pushed for expanded testing criteria to include individuals with mild symptoms, but their efforts were met with resistance. The CDC’s limited testing capacity at the time partly explains the strict criteria, but Weiss argues that the city should have taken a more proactive approach. He recalls feeling “wedged between the suspicion of cases and the inability to test them,” as the city went weeks without identifying a single COVID-19 case. By the time the first case was confirmed on March 1, 2020, the virus had already been circulating in the city for a month. Weiss writes that nearly 240 suspected cases were reported before the first confirmation, highlighting the failure to act swiftly.

Criticisms of the City’s Pandemic Response

Weiss’s book also critiques other aspects of New York City’s pandemic response. He expresses frustration with then-Mayor Bill de Blasio’s handling of the crisis, particularly the mayor’s decision to reveal detailed information about a COVID-positive child in the Bronx. Weiss argues that this caused the child to face discrimination and abuse, prompting the Health Department to withhold similar information in the future. Additionally, Weiss criticizes the city’s contact tracing program as ineffective and the overuse of COVID-19 screening in schools. He acknowledges that trying different strategies during an unprecedented pandemic was understandable but argues that sticking with ineffective measures for too long was unjustifiable.

Lessons Learned and the Path Forward

Weiss’s reflections offer valuable lessons for future public health crises. He emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that protects individual freedoms while safeguarding community health. The pandemic revealed systemic shortcomings in the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities, and Weiss calls for greater flexibility and urgency in addressing emerging health threats. As someone who spent 22 years leading the city’s surveillance efforts, his critique carries significant weight. Weiss retired in 2023 after being reassigned, which he claims was a result of speaking out against what he saw as political correctness gone too far. His story serves as a reminder of the consequences of rigid adherence to guidelines and the importance of proactive leadership in times of crisis. The over 46,000 COVID-related deaths in NYC since the pandemic began underscore the need for better preparedness and a more responsive public health system.