Pandemic Planning in Homeless Shelters: A pilot study of a COVID-19 testing and support program to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate settings

Claire Bodkin; Vaibhav Mokashi; Kerry Beal; Jill Wiwcharuk; Robin Lennox; Dale Guenter; Marek Smieja; Timothy O’Shea

doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa743

. 2020 Jun 8:ciaa743. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa743

Pandemic Planning in Homeless Shelters: A pilot study of a COVID-19 testing and support program to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate settings

Claire Bodkin ¹, Vaibhav Mokashi ², Kerry Beal ³, Jill Wiwcharuk ⁴, Robin Lennox ⁴, Dale Guenter ⁴, Marek Smieja ⁵, Timothy O’Shea ^6,^✉

PMCID: PMC7314119 PMID: 32511704

Abstract

We tested 104 residents and 141 staff for COVID-19 who failed daily symptom screening in homeless shelters in Hamilton, Canada. We detected one resident (1%), seven staff (5%) and one case of secondary spread. Shelter restructuring to allow physical distancing, testing and isolation can decrease outbreaks in shelters.

Keywords: coronavirus, homeless, shelter, surveillance, outbreak

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Pandemic Planning in Homeless Shelters: A pilot study of a COVID-19 testing and support program to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate settings

Claire Bodkin, BA, MD

Vaibhav Mokashi, BSc, MD

Kerry Beal, RT, ART, BSc, MD

Jill Wiwcharuk, MD

Robin Lennox, MD

Dale Guenter, MD, MPH

Marek Smieja, MD, PhD

Timothy O’Shea, MD, MPH

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Pandemic Planning in Homeless Shelters: A pilot study of a COVID-19 testing and support program to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in congregate settings

Claire Bodkin, BA, MD

Vaibhav Mokashi, BSc, MD

Kerry Beal, RT, ART, BSc, MD

Jill Wiwcharuk, MD

Robin Lennox, MD

Dale Guenter, MD, MPH

Marek Smieja, MD, PhD

Timothy O’Shea, MD, MPH

Roles

Abstract

ACTIONS

PERMALINK

RESOURCES

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