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Community-Based Testing for SARS-CoV-2 — Chicago, Illinois, May–November 2020
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May 14 2021
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 70(19):707-711
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Alternative Title:MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
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Description:On May 13, 2020, Chicago established a free community-based tTesting (CBT) initiative for SARS-CoV-2, the Virus that causes COVID-19, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The initiative focused on demographic groups and geographic areas that were underrepresented in tTesting by clinical providers and had experienced high COVID-19 incidence, including Hispanic persons and those who have been economically marginalized. To assess the CBT initiative, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) compared demographic characteristics, economic marginalization, and test positivity between persons tested at CBT sites and persons tested in all other tTesting settings in Chicago. During May 13-November 14, a total of 253,904 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests were conducted at CBT sites. Compared with those tested in all other tTesting settings in Chicago, persons tested at CBT sites were more likely to live in areas that are economically marginalized (38.6% versus 32.0%; p<0.001) and to be Hispanic (50.9% versus 20.7%; p<0.001). The cumulative percentage of positive test results at the CBT sites was higher than that at all other tTesting settings (11.1% versus 7.1%; p<0.001). These results demonstrate the ability of public health departments to establish community-based tTesting initiatives that reach communities with less access to tTesting in other settings and that experience disproportionately higher incidences of COVID-19.
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Pubmed ID:33983914
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC8118149
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