August 27, 2020

Notes from the Field: Universal Statewide Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Nursing Homes — West Virginia

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): testing, transmission

• During March 17–April 16, 2020, 307 COVID-19 cases were reported among residents and staff members in 7 nursing homes in West Virginia, 4 of which had outbreaks involving 20–40 residents. In response, the governor ordered universal testing among all 123 nursing homes in the state (April 21–May 8), which resulted in the identification of 42 COVID-19 incident cases in 28 (23%) nursing homes, none of which had previously experienced an outbreak. The 42 cases occurred in 11/8,911 residents (0.1%) and 31/13,687 staff members (0.2%).

McBee et al. (Aug 28, 2020). Notes from the Field: Universal Statewide Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Nursing Homes — West Virginia, April 21–May 8, 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6934a4