Community-Based Testing for SARS-CoV-2 - Chicago, Illinois, May-November 2020

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• COVID-19 disparities in testing access and incidence.
• Need for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of Chicago's community-based testing (CBT) initiative.
• Assess reach to underserved populations and impact on COVID-19 positivity rates.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of demographic data and test positivity.
• Utilized SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.
• Data collected from May 13 to November 14, 2020.

Main Results:

• CBT sites served more economically marginalized (38.6%) and Hispanic (50.9%) individuals.
• CBT sites had higher cumulative test positivity rates (11.1%) compared to other settings (7.1%).
• Significant differences observed (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Community-based testing initiatives effectively reach underserved populations.
• Public health efforts can address disparities in COVID-19 testing and incidence.
• CBT demonstrates success in equitable disease surveillance.