SARS-CoV-2 Community Transmission disproportionately affects Latinx population during Shelter-in-Place in San Francisco

G. Chamie, C. Marquez, E. Crawford, James Peng, M. Petersen, D. Schwab, J. Schwab, Jackie Martinez, Diane Jones, D. Black, M. Gandhi, A. D. Kerkhoff, V. Jain, F. Sergi, J. Jacobo, S. Rojas, V. Tulier-Laiwa, T. Gallardo-Brown, A. Appa, C. Chiu, M. Rodgers, J. Hackett, A. Kistler, S. Hao, J. Kamm, D. Dynerman, J. Batson, B. Greenhouse, J. Derisi, D. Havlir

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2020

Abstract Background There is urgent need to understand the dynamics and risk factors driving ongoing SARS-CoV-2 transmission during shelter-in-place mandates. Methods We offered SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-PCR and antibody (Abbott ARCHITECT IgG) testing, regardless of symptoms, to all residents (≥4 years) and workers in a San Francisco census tract (population: 5,174) at outdoor, community-mobilized events over four days. We estimated SARS-CoV-2 point prevalence (PCR-positive) and cumulative incidence (antibody or PCR-positive) in the census tract and evaluated risk factors for recent (PCR-positive/antibody-negative) versus prior infection (antibody-positive/PCR-negative). SARS-CoV-2 genome recovery and phylogenetics were used to measure viral strain diversity, establish viral lineages present, and estimate number of introductions. Results We tested 3,953 persons: 40% Latinx; 41% White; 9% Asian/Pacific Islander; and 2% Black. Overall, 2.1% (83/3,871) tested PCR-positive: 95% were Latinx and 52% asymptomatic when tested. 1.7% of census tract residents and 6.0% of workers (non-census tract residents) were PCR-positive. Among 2,598 tract residents, estimated point prevalence of PCR-positives was 2.3% (95%CI: 1.2-3.8%): 3.9% (95%CI: 2.0-6.4%) among Latinx vs. 0.2% (95%CI: 0.0-0.4%) among non-Latinx persons. Estimated cumulative incidence among residents was 6.1% (95%CI: 4.0-8.6%). Prior infections were 67% Latinx, 16% White, and 17% other ethnicities. Among recent infections, 96% were Latinx. Risk factors for recent infection were Latinx ethnicity, inability to shelter-in-place and maintain income, frontline service work, unemployment, and household income &$50,000/year. Five SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic lineages were detected. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 infections from diverse lineages continued circulating among low-income, Latinx persons unable to work from home and maintain income during San Francisco’s shelter-in-place ordinance.

Cited by 34 publications.

Field of study: Medicine

10.1093/cid/ciaa1234