Quarantine and isolation facility: A State Health Department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Appathurai Balamurugan, MD, DrPH
  • William Greenfield, MD
  • Michael Knox, DrPH
  • Greg Brown, NRP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2021.0402

Keywords:

COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, public health practice, emergency preparedness

Abstract

Background: State Health Departments are at the helm of addressing the myriad needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those of vulnerable populations who do not have a place to self-isolate or quarantine to prevent the spread. An estimated 5,000 Arkansas residents face homelessness and are at increased risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Additionally, those living in multigenerational families face similar challenges.

Objective: We share our experiences and lessons learned in planning, executing, and maintaining a quarantine and isolation facility for vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Setting and patients: A 29-bed quarantine and isolation facility was instituted and maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health to meet the quarantine and isolation needs of vulnerable populations.

Outcomes and conclusions: As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, need for a facility to meet quarantine and isolation requirements of vulnerable population is not just a critical mitigation strategy but is an ethical imperative.

Author Biographies

Appathurai Balamurugan, MD, DrPH

Acting Chief Medical Officer & State Chronic Disease Director, Arkansas Department of Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; Associate Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas

William Greenfield, MD

Medical Director for Family Health, Arkansas Department of Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas

Michael Knox, DrPH

Branch Chief, Preparedness and Emergency Response Branch, Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, Arkansas

Greg Brown, NRP

Branch Chief, Trauma, EMS, Stroke and STEMI Branch, Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, Arkansas

References

Salisbury-Afshar EM, Rich JD, Adashi EY: Vulnerable populations: Weathering the pandemic storm. Am J Prev Med. 2020; 58(6): 892-894. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.04.002.

Mosites E, Parker EM, Clarke Ke, et al.: Assessment of SARSCoV-2 infection prevalence in homeless shelters—Four US cities March 27–April 15, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69(17): 521-522.

Baggett T, Keyes H, Sporn N, et al.: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in residents of a large homeless shelter in Boston. JAMA. 2020; 323: 2191.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council: COVID-19 & the HCH community: Needed actions from public health and emergency response systems. 2020. Available at https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Issue-brief-2-COVID-19-HCH-Community-Public-Health-Actions.pdf. Accessed June 11, 2020.

National Health Care for the Homeless Council: COVID-19 technical assistance resources. Available at https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/homelessness-and-health.pdf. Accessed June 11, 2020.

Hadden K, Partlow D, Liverett H, et al.: Addressing homelessness and COVID-19 quarantine: A streamlined assessment and referral process. NEJM Catal. 2020. DOI: 10.1056/CAT.20.0245.

Henry M, Watt R, Mahathey A, et al.: The 2019 annual homeless assessment report (AHAR) to congress. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2020: 1-104. Available at https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf. Accessed June 11, 2020.

Balamurugan A: Operation compassion: COVID-19 pandemic & homelessness in Arkansas. J Arkansas Med Soc. 2021; 117(7): 152-154.

Published

09/01/2021

How to Cite

Balamurugan, MD, DrPH, A., W. Greenfield, MD, M. Knox, DrPH, and G. Brown, NRP. “Quarantine and Isolation Facility: A State Health Department’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2021, pp. 203-5, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2021.0402.

Issue

Section

Articles