Implementing testing approaches for SARS-CoV-2 to address health disparities: lessons learned from sexually transmitted infections

Introduction

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus and the cause of COVID-19 (https://www.who.int/). There are currently 45 million individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and over 1.2 million who have died worldwide.1 Of these, nine million cases and over 228 000 deaths have occurred in the USA.1 COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted individuals with comorbidities and of older age. Other social risk factors predicting vulnerability to COVID-19 include low socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity and occupational setting. There has been a higher number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among marginalised groups. Populations in the USA with a greater COVID-19 burden include African American/black and Hispanic/Latino communities. There are limited data on SARS-CoV-2 and sexual orientation and gender diversity. However, based on existing health disparities, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community is also likely to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. A key component of addressing COVID-19 is diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2….

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