Detection and Genetic Characterization of Community-Based SARS-CoV-2 Infections - New York City, March 2020.

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Community-Based SARS-CoV-2 Infections - New York City, March 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Jul 17;69(28):918-922 Authors: Bushman D, Alroy KA, Greene SK, Keating P, Wahnich A, Weiss D, Pathela P, Harrison C, Rakeman J, Langley G, Tong S, Tao Y, Uehara A, Queen K, Paden CR, Szymczak W, Orner EP, Nori P, Lai PA, Jacobson JL, Singh HK, Calfee DP, Westblade LF, Vasovic LV, Rand JH, Liu D, Singh V, Burns J, Prasad N, CDC COVID-19 Surge Laboratory Group;, Sell J Abstract To limit introduction of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the United States restricted travel from China on February 2, 2020, and from Europe on March 13. To determine whether local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 could be detected, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) conducted deidentified sentinel surveillance at six NYC hospital emergency departments (EDs) during March 1-20. On March 8, while testing availability for SARS-CoV-2 was still limited, DOHMH announced sustained community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (1). At this time, twenty-six NYC residents had confirmed COVID-19, and ED visits for influenza-like illness* increased, despite decreased influenza virus circulation.† The following week, on March 15, when only seven of the 56 (13%) patients with known exposure histories had exposure outside of NYC, the level of community SARS-CoV-2 transmission ...
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research