Key Points
Question
Can persons experiencing homelessness with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and mild to moderate symptoms be safely monitored in designated isolation and quarantine (I/Q) hotels?
Findings
In this cohort study among 1009 I/Q hotel guests referred from hospitals, outpatient settings, and public health surveillance, 81% completed their recommended I/Q course, and only 4% of those transferred from the county hospital required readmission for COVID-19 progression.
Meaning
This study suggests that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a hotel-based I/Q strategy that delivers integrated medical and behavioral health support to people experiencing homelessness can be done safely outside the hospital setting.
We report the public health response to a COVID-19 outbreak in a San Francisco shelter where 67% of residents and 17% of staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We describe the limited utility of case investigation, person-based contact tracing and symptom screening, and the benefits of mass testing in outbreak response.
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