8/21—Mass Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 16 Prisons and Jails
Mass testing in 16 U.S. prisons and jails found SARS-CoV-2 prevalence ranging from 0%–86.8%, a median 12.1-fold increase over the number of cases identified by earlier symptom-based testing alone. Mass testing increased total known cases from 642 (range = 2–181, median = 19) before mass testing to 8,239 (range = 10–2,193, median = 403) after mass testing (Figure), representing a 1.5–157-fold increase (median 12.3-fold) in each facility. Mass testing […] suggests that symptom-based testing underestimates the number of COVID-19 cases in these settings (Hagan et al. 2020).
COVID-19 Prevention Practices in State Prisons — Puerto Rico, 2020
As of August 17, 2020, the Puerto Rico Department of Health had reported 11,723 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 15,037 probable cases, and 335 deaths. Among persons incarcerated in state prisons, a high-risk congregate setting, only two COVID-19 cases and no associated deaths had been reported. All new intake procedures include SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing regardless of symptoms. Asymptomatic persons awaiting test results are cohorted in groups of no more than 20 in the intake area. If everyone in the group tests negative for SARS-CoV-2, and all remain asymptomatic during 14 days of quarantine, they are released into the general prison population.
Limited Secondary Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Child Care Programs — Rhode Island, June 1–July 31, 2020
Rhode Island reopened child care programs in the context of low SARS-CoV-2 transmission relative to other U.S. states. Possible secondary transmission was identified in four of the 666 programs that had been allowed to reopen, all in the last 2 weeks of July, when community transmission in Rhode Island increased. Despite limited identified secondary transmission, the impact on child care programs was substantial, with 853 children and staff members quarantined.
Improving the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19: examining the factors that influence engagement and the impact on individuals
Factors such as how an individual perceives their susceptibility to the infection (rather than their actual risk), whether they believe the infection to be severe if acquired, their perceptions towards the efficacy of the mitigation strategy and their perceptions toward their ability to conduct the activity (self-efficacy), can all contribute […]. Willingness to adhere to NPIs may be influenced by the severity of illness observed in the community, relative to the need for income and the level of community, individual, and family disruption. Compliance reflects the interaction of a range of modifiable and nonmodifiable factors including the availability of resources, socioeconomic status, perceived consequences that could result, and their perceived level of personal and local community risk.
A Look Behind the Scenes at COVID-19: National Strategies of Infection Control and Their Impact on Mortality
A lack of preparedness for the sudden onset of COVID-19 by governments and health care systems, combined with inadequate public health strategies and deficiencies in diagnostic mechanisms, treatment options, and management protocols, aggravated the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 globally. The preparedness of the health care system includes stockpiles of appropriate and effective personal protection equipment (PPE), fast and reliable testing methods, and cluster and individual tracking of cases and their contacts.
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