Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

September 17, 2020

Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities Through Preemptive Testing of Residents and Staff Members — Fulton County, Georgia, March–May 2020

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  • There was a considerably higher proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 test results among residents and staff in long-term care facilities when testing was conducted in response to an initial confirmed case of COVID-19 compared to preventive testing done before cases were detected.
  • In Fulton County, Georgia, testing in response to an initial case in long-term care facilities (n=15) resulted in positive tests in 28% of residents and 7% of staff, increasing to 42% of residents and 12% of staff at 4-week follow-up testing. By comparison, when testing was conducted preventively (n=13 facilities), only 1% of residents and staff tested positive, increasing to 2% after 4 weeks. The authors conclude that proactive testing for residents and staff members might prevent large COVID-19 outbreaks through early identification and timely response. [EDITORIAL NOTE: A version of this article was previously summarized as a pre-print on July 2, 2020]

Telford et al. (Sept 18, 2020). Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities Through Preemptive Testing of Residents and Staff Members — Fulton County, Georgia, March–May 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6937a4