Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract BackgroundPeople experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study reports the point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during testing conducted at sites serving people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored the association between site characteristics and prevalence rates. MethodsThe study included individuals who were staying at shelters, encampments, COVID-19 physical distancing sites, and drop-in and respite sites and completed outreach-based testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the period April 17 to July 31, 2020. We examined test positivity rates over time and compared them to rates in the general population of Toronto. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the relationship between each shelter-level characteristic and SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates. We also compared the rates across 3 time periods (T1: April 17-April 25; T2: April 26-May 23; T3: May 24-June 25). ResultsThe overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 8.5% (394/4657). Site-specific rates showed great heterogeneity with infection rates ranging from 0% to 70.6%. Compared to T1, positivity rates were 0.21 times lower (95% CI: 0.06, 0.75) during T2 and 0.14 times lower (95% CI: 0.043, 0.44) during T3. Most cases were detected during outbreak testing (384/394 [97.5%]) rather than active case finding. InterpretationDuring the first wave of the pandemic, rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection at sites for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto varied significantly over time. The observation of lower rates at certain sites may be attributable to overall time trends, expansion of outreach-based testing to include sites without known outbreaks and/or individual site characteristics.
Damba Cynthia、Lena Suvendrini、Wright Vanessa、Loutfy Mona、Bruce-Barrett Cindy、Cheung Yick Kan、Manning Harvey、Hester Joe、Hwang Stephen W.、Williams Victoria、Boozary Andrew、Beder Michaela、Vanmeurs Miriam、Wong Jonathan、Luong Linh、Emond Ryan、Orkin Aaron、Cheung Wilfred、Nisenbaum Rosane
Central Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoDepartment of Medicine, Women?ˉs College Hospital||Centre for Addiction & Mental HealthDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, Women?ˉs College HospitalWomen?ˉs College Research Institute, Women?ˉs College Hospital, University of Toronto & Maple Leaf Medical ClinicThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenCentral Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoAnishnawbe Health TorontoAnishnawbe Health TorontoMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael?ˉs Hospital, Unity Health TorontoCentral Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoUniversity Health NetworkDepartment of Psychiatry, University of TorontoCentral Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoInner City Health AssociatesMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael?ˉs Hospital, Unity Health TorontoCentral Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of TorontoCentral Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Health TorontoMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael?ˉs Hospital, Unity Health Toronto||Division of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
医学研究方法预防医学医学现状、医学发展
HomelessnessCOVID-19 pandemicHomeless SheltersVulnerable Populations
Damba Cynthia,Lena Suvendrini,Wright Vanessa,Loutfy Mona,Bruce-Barrett Cindy,Cheung Yick Kan,Manning Harvey,Hester Joe,Hwang Stephen W.,Williams Victoria,Boozary Andrew,Beder Michaela,Vanmeurs Miriam,Wong Jonathan,Luong Linh,Emond Ryan,Orkin Aaron,Cheung Wilfred,Nisenbaum Rosane.Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic[EB/OL].(2025-03-28)[2025-06-03].https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.21.21263713.点此复制
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