September 2, 2020

Cross-Sectional Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Skilled Nursing Facility Employees and Residents Across Facilities in Seattle

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): Seattle, transmission

• Between March 29 and May 13, 2020, 16 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in the Seattle area (1,583 employees and 1,208 residents) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, of which 11 (69%) SNFs had one or more employees or residents positive. Overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 3% among employees and 9% among residents. Despite facility policies that employees with new respiratory symptoms should not come to work, 42 (3%) employees reported respiratory symptoms (22 with cough, 39 with sore throat, 7 with fever) during the on-site testing. Out of 13 who tested positive and had symptom information available, 9 (69%) were asymptomatic.

Weil et al. (Sept 1, 2020). Cross-Sectional Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Skilled Nursing Facility Employees and Residents Across Facilities in Seattle. Journal of General Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06165-7