Epidemiology
· Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia) and the Louisiana Department of Health (New Orleans, Louisiana) conducted a prospective cohort study of 143 inmates residing in 6 dormitories at an unnamed minimum-security correctional facility in Louisiana between May 7 and June 3, 2020. The 143 inmates were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR with an overall positive rate of 78% (111/143) suggesting a rapid viral outbreak in this population. At the height of the outbreak, 47% (52/111) of positive inmates were asymptomatic, highlighting the importance of early testing for all in congregate settings along with mitigation strategies to reduce rapid viral transmission.
· Gerontologists from Brown University in Rhode Island evaluated risk factors for mortality in 5,256 symptomatic, SARS-CoV-2 positive nursing home residents across 351 US nursing homes between March 16 and September 15, 2020. They found increased odds of all-cause 30-day mortality with increased age, male sex (OR for female sex: 0.69 [95% CI, 0.60-0.80]), impaired cognition (OR: 2.09 [95% CI, 1.68-2.59]), and physical impairment (OR: 1.49 [95% CI, 1.18-1.88]). Authors conclude that understanding these risk factors can help identify high-risk nursing home residents and inform goals of care conversations.
Mental Health & Resilience Needs
· A survey conducted on 2870 adults living in California during July 14 - July 27, 2020 by researchers at University of California - Davis School of Medicine found that fear of personal safety due to violence of others was heightened during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic concerns. 110,000 individuals purchased a firearm during the pandemic, 47,000 of which were new owners, suggesting that violence-related harm is crucial particularly during the pandemic, and short-term crisis interventions may become key in reducing impulsive violence.
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