June 19, 2020

SARS-CoV-2 Positivity Rate for Latinos in the Baltimore-Washington, DC Region

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• Out of 37,727 patients from 5 hospitals who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region, 16.3% (95% CI 16.0-16.7%) tested positive. Prevalence was significantly higher for Latino patients (42.6%, 95% CI 41.1-44.1%), black patients (17.6%, 95% CI 16.6-18.3%) and patients of other non-white race/ethnicity (17.2%, 95% CI 16.2-18.3%) compared to white patients (8.8%, 95% CI 8.4-9.2%). Trends in positivity peaked later for Latino patients than white or black patients. The hospital admission rate was lower for Latino patients (29.1%, 95% Ci 27.0-31.2%) than white patients (40.1%, 95% CI 37.6-42.5%) or black patients (41.7%, 95% CI 39.5-43.8%). Hospitalized Latino patients were younger and had lower rates of comorbidities than white or black patients.  

Martinez et al. (June 18, 2020). SARS-CoV-2 Positivity Rate for Latinos in the Baltimore-Washington, DC Region. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.11374