Conway B, Truong D, Wuerth K. COVID-10 in homeless populations: unique challenges and opportunities. Future Virology 15(6), 331-334, June 2020.
Full text: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0156
At the time of this writing, over five million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide. Quite apart from issues around testing, personal protective equipment and ventilator capacity, several public health interventions are a key part of our response to the pandemic. In our city of Vancouver, the message is clear: stay home, stay put. We are invited to do five things: stay home if we are sick; stay at least 2 meters away from others outside our home; avoid any significant gathering of people; work at home if we can; avoid nonessential outings. These behaviors have led to an unprecedented shift in societal organization and individual behaviors. Vulnerable populations, such as those in urban Vancouver, are both more susceptible to the disease and less able to implement recommended public health efforts, leading to the question of how to address the needs and safety of these populations during a global pandemic.