Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 21, 2020

Lessons from Mass-Testing for COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities for the Elderly in San Francisco

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  • Louie et al. describe the results of surveillance, outbreak response, and control measures to prevent COVID-19 in 4 long term care facilities (LCTF) in San Francisco early in the pandemic. Facility-wide testing of asymptomatic health care workers (HCWs) and residents in these 4 facilities (n=303) found 16% of HCWs and 40% of residents were positive. Across facilities, the proportion of COVID-19 cases who were asymptomatic ranged from 4% to 41% among HCWs and 20% to 75% among residents. Despite temperature and symptom surveillance before each shift, out of the 4 HCWs identified as the index case for outbreaks, 3 reported working while symptomatic, all of whom wore masks but not necessarily eye protection, gloves, or gowns.  

Louie et al. (July 20, 2020). Lessons from Mass-Testing for COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities for the Elderly in San Francisco. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1020