Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Nursing Homes, Barcelona, Spain, April 2020

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;26(9):2281-2283. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.202603. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease pandemic in Spain, from April 10-24, 2020, a total of 5,869 persons were screened for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at nursing homes. Among residents, 768 (23.9%) tested positive; among staff, 403 (15.2%). Of those testing positive, 69.7% of residents and 55.8% of staff were asymptomatic.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Spain; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; elderly; infection control; nursing homes; prevention and control; respiratory infections; reverse transcription PCR; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology*
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Homes for the Aged / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nursing Homes / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spain / epidemiology