Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Jan;28(1):76-84. doi: 10.3201/eid2801.210780. Epub 2021 Dec 2.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential for rapid transmission in congregate settings. We describe the multidisciplinary response to an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a large homeless shelter in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The response to the outbreak included 4 rounds of mass PCR testing of all staff and residents and subsequent isolation of persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We further describe the dynamics of the shelter outbreak by fitting a modified susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered compartmental model incorporating the widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing and isolation measures implemented in this shelter. Our model demonstrates that rapid transmission of COVID-19 in the shelter occurred before the outbreak was detected; rates of transmission declined after widespread testing and isolation measures were put in place. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of mass PCR testing and isolation in congregate settings and suggest the necessity of prompt response to suspected COVID-19 outbreaks in homeless shelters.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）在人群密集场所具有快速传播的潜力。我们描述了美国伊利诺伊州芝加哥市一个大型无家可归者收容所内冠状病毒病（COVID-19）爆发的多学科应对措施。该应对措施包括对所有工作人员和居民进行 4 轮大规模聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测，以及对检测出 SARS-CoV-2 呈阳性的人员进行后续隔离。我们通过拟合一个改良的易感性-暴露-感染-恢复房室模型进一步描述了收容所爆发的动态，该模型纳入了在该收容所实施的广泛的 SARS-CoV-2 检测和隔离措施。我们的模型表明，COVID-19 在收容所内的快速传播发生在爆发被发现之前；在广泛实施检测和隔离措施后，传播率下降。总的来说，我们证明了在人群密集场所进行大规模 PCR 检测和隔离的可行性，并建议对无家可归者收容所中疑似 COVID-19 爆发做出迅速反应的必要性。
