August 4, 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in a San Francisco Homeless Shelter

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• Imbert et al. report on an outbreak of COVID-19 in a San Francisco homeless shelter, during which 255 residents and 64 staff were present. An initial strategy of tracing bedmates of the first 2 cases and temperature checks and symptom screening of residents identified 7 additional cases. Subsequently, mass testing of 150 of 255 residents identified that 67% were positive, of which 48% were symptomatic at the time of testing. Of the 60 staff tested, 17% were positive. After the shelter closed, 12% of cases visited the ER, 8% were hospitalized, and 1% died.  

Imbert et al. (Aug 2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in a San Francisco Homeless Shelter. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1071