"Researchers found something similar in Boston. In the study of 147 people testing positive at one shelter, just 11 reported a cough. That study is changing practices at the network of shelters affiliated with the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, says Travis Baggett, director of research at the programme and an author on the study. “Until that point, we were screening people by checking their temperatures, and using that as the basis for testing,” he explains. “But our data shows that if we aren’t more proactive, we’ll be too late to prevent an outbreak.”
“Another initiative spearheaded by GSAS affiliates is a collaboration between the group Bike Harvard and the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Co-founder and former leader of Bike Harvard Marissa Grunes revisited submissions from an old Bike Harvard logo design competition and with a graphic designer, created a new Bike Harvard T-shirt, which is being sold online to raise money for BHCHP’s COVID-19 relief fund.”
"The coronavirus pandemic has shown there are many needs, particularly in communities where the virus has had a disproportionate impact.
Because of that, third year medical student Melanie Fritz gave her money to Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Cosecha Massachusetts, a mutual aid fund for immigrants.”
“Bridget Sullivan and Dr. Peter Smith helped lead the transformation of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center into a home and hospital for hundreds. The field hospital has been named Boston Hope.”
“Dr. Jim O'Connell: There are many paradoxes and ironies in this epidemic. One is that I think if you're in a shelter, you're more likely to get the virus than if you're living outside. So many of our street folks, for example, do not want to go anywhere near a shelter because they think that's where they will get sick. And interestingly, up until now, we've seen very few street people come down with COVID positivity, and most of them have been tested by the hospitals when they hit the emergency room.”
“Ninety percent of our focus has been on the COVID-related stuff,” said David Munson, medical director of respite programmes for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, one of the country’s oldest and largest.”
State House News Service: Matt Murphy and Michael P Norton
May 2020
“The effort is being executed with Boston Health Care for the Homeless, the Boston Public Health Commission, St. Francis House, and the Pine Street Inn. Through Thursday, 1,340 individuals have been tested and 453, or 34 percent, have tested positive.”
“Boston has taught us, you have to keep the homeless population in your overall plan,” said Dr. Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. “I think it’s a major issue for cities and something we are going to have to tackle.” Watch more here!
