Coronavirus Disease 2019 Burden Among Unaccompanied Minors in US Custody. (1st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Foppiano Palacios, Carlo; Tucker, Elizabeth W; Travassos, Mark A
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 76:Number 3(2023)
• Page Start: e101
• Page End: e107
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- immigrant health -- health inequities; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, crowded and unsanitary living conditions lacking medical expertise made US detention centers hotbeds for infectious disease outbreaks. There have been 30 000 COVID-19 cases, positivity rates exceeding 50%, and 9 deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, but the extent of disease among children under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has not been well-documented. We sought to evaluate the burden of COVID-19 among unaccompanied minors under the ORR's responsibility. Methods: We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 testing results of refugees and asylum seekers in facilities associated with the ORR from February 1, 2020, to November 18, 2020, courtesy of a Freedom of Information Act request. Results: ORR facilities performed 7132 SARS-CoV-2 tests from March 13, 2020, to November 18, 2020. Overall, the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 13.4%. Factors associated with higher positivity rates were age group (16–17 years old); identifying as male; undergoing testing in April, August, or September; staying in a for-profit versus a nonprofit facility; and detention in certain facilities. The mean detention time with a positive test was 14.8 ± 3.2 days. Greater than 10% of positive tests were in long-term detainees. Conclusions: The high SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate raises concerns about an inability to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within detention facilities housing unaccompanied migrant children, particularly those run by for-profit companies. Mandated measures for social distancing and vaccination among detainees and detention facility employees are needed to limit the spread of the virus. Abstract : We found a high severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test positivity rate among unaccompanied minors, particularly in long-term detainees in for-profit facilities. This raises concerns about the Office of Refugee Resettlement's ability to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within facilities housing migrant children.