Geographic Associations Between Social Factors and SARS-CoV-2 Testing Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic, February–June 2020, Massachusetts

• DOI: 10.1177/00333549211036750
• Publication Date: 2021-08-13T17:13:14Z
• Authors: Scott Troppy; Grete E. Wilt; Ari Whiteman; Elaine Hallisey; Molly Crockett; J. Danielle Sharpe; Gillian Haney; Kevin Cranston; R. Monina Klevens
• Keywords: Pandemic; Interquartile range; Social distance; Spatial epidemiology

Objectives Widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing is critical to identify infected people and implement public health action interrupt transmission. With supplies laboratory capacity now widely available in the United States, understanding spatial heterogeneity of associations between social determinants use essential improve availability populations disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2. Methods We assessed positive negative results molecular tests conducted from February 1 through June 17, 2020, Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network, an integrated web-based surveillance case management system Massachusetts. Using geographically weighted regression Moran’s I autocorrelation tests, we quantified rates 11 metrics Social Vulnerability Index all 351 towns Results Median decreased with increasing percentages residents limited English proficiency (median relative risk [interquartile range] = 0.96 [0.95-0.99]), aged ≥65 (0.97 [0.87-0.98]), without insurance (0.96 [0.95-1.04], residing crowded housing conditions (0.89 [0.80-0.94]). These differed spatially across Massachusetts, localized models improved explainable variation 8% 12%. Conclusion Indicators vulnerability are associated variations rates. Accounting for these may ability explain address pandemic at substate levels.