Characterization of community‐wide transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in congregate living settings and local public health‐coordinated response during the initial phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Background Clusters of COVID‐19 cases amplify the pandemic and are critical targets for intervention, but comprehensive cluster‐level data are not collected systematically by federal or most state public health entities. This analysis characterizes COVID‐19 clusters among vulnerable populations hous...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 2021-07, Vol.15 (4), p.439-445
Main Authors: Terebuh, Pauline D., Egwiekhor, Amina J., Gullett, Heidi L., Fakolade, Adeola O., Miracle, Jill E., Ganesh, Prakash T., Rose, Johnie, Stange, Kurt C., Szabo, Andrea D., Grisez, Barry, Brennan, Kevin, Hrusch, Suzanne, Napolitano, Jackie, Brazile, Ramona, Allan, Terrence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access control
Clusters
community transmission
congregate living
Containment
COVID-19
Epidemics
Group homes
Health care
health personnel
Homeless people
Jurisdiction
Laboratories
local health department
Medical personnel
Nursing homes
Ohio
Original
pandemic
Pandemics
Personal protective equipment
Populations
Preventive medicine
Public health
residential facilities
Respiratory diseases
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Strategic planning
Viruses
Workers
Workforce planning
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Summary:Background Clusters of COVID‐19 cases amplify the pandemic and are critical targets for intervention, but comprehensive cluster‐level data are not collected systematically by federal or most state public health entities. This analysis characterizes COVID‐19 clusters among vulnerable populations housed in congregate living settings across an entire community and describes early mitigation efforts. Methods The Cuyahoga County Board of Health identified and interviewed COVID‐19 cases and exposed contacts, assessing possible connections to congregate living facilities within its jurisdiction from March 7, 2020, to May 15, 2020, during the first phase of the pandemic, while state of Ohio stay‐at‐home orders were in effect. A multi‐disciplinary team‐based response network was mobilized to support active case finding and develop facility‐focused containment strategies. Results We identified a cascade of 45 COVID‐19 clusters across community facilities (corrections, nursing, assisted living, intermediate care, extended treatment, shelters, group homes). Attack rates were highest within small facilities (P 
ISSN:1750-2640
1750-2659
DOI:10.1111/irv.12819