Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 2, 2020

Mass Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Residents and Staff in Twenty-Eight Long-Term Care Facilities in Fulton County Georgia

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  • [pre-print, not peer reviewed] A mass screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in 28 long-term care facilities (5,671 residents and staff) in Fulton County, Georgia, revealed significantly higher prevalence of infection in 15 facilities that screened in response to a known infection compared to 13 facilities that screened as a prevention measure (i.e., no cases had yet been reported by the time of screening) (28.9% vs. 1.6%). Of the 1,085 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, 18% (n=192) required hospitalization and 12% died (n=135). Facilities that tested in response to a known infection accounted for an overwhelming proportion of hospitalizations (186 of 191, 97%) and deaths (131 of 135, 97%). 
  • The authors conclude that these results provide support for active screening to identify cases early before extensive transmission occurs within long-term care facilities. 

Telford et al. (July 2, 2020). Mass Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Residents and Staff in Twenty-Eight Long-Term Care Facilities in Fulton County Georgia. Pre-print downloaded July 2 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.01.20144162