June 11, 2020

Addressing COVID-19 Among People Experiencing Homelessness: Description, Adaptation, and Early Findings of a Multiagency Response in Boston

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• In March 2020, Boston implemented a citywide COVID-19 care model for people experiencing homelessness. During the first 6 weeks of operation, 429 of 1,297 (33%) people tested were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 395 people were experiencing homelessness at the time of testing, representing about 10% of the homeless adult population in Boston. Personnel adapted the care model during the third week of operations when a large shelter outbreak of COVID-19 with a high proportion of asymptomatic infections occurred. Their experience illustrated the need to shift from symptom-based screening orcontact tracing to universal testing. 

Baggett et al. (June 9, 2020).  Addressing COVID-19 Among People Experiencing Homelessness: Description, Adaptation, and Early Findings of a Multiagency Response in Boston. Public Health Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920936227