COVID-19 Outbreak - New York City, February 29-June 1, 2020.

New York City (NYC) was an epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States during spring 2020 (1). During March-May 2020, approximately 203,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). To obtain more complete data, DOHMH used supplementary information sources and relied on direct data importation and matching of patient identifiers for data on hospitalization status, the occurrence of death, race/ethnicity, and presence of underlying medical conditions. The highest rates of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were concentrated in communities of color, high-poverty areas, and among persons aged ≥75 years or with underlying conditions. The crude fatality rate was 9.2% overall and 32.1% among hospitalized patients. Using these data to prevent additional infections among NYC residents during subsequent waves of the pandemic, particularly among those at highest risk for hospitalization and death, is critical. Mitigating COVID-19 transmission among vulnerable groups at high risk for hospitalization and death is an urgent priority. Similar to NYC, other jurisdictions might find the use of supplementary information sources valuable in their efforts to prevent COVID-19 infections.

Characteristics of Persons Who Died with COVID-19 - United States, February 12-May 18, 2020.

During January 1, 2020-May 18, 2020, approximately 1.3 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 83,000 COVID-19-associated deaths were reported in the United States (1). Understanding the demographic and clinical characteristics of decedents could inform medical and public health interventions focused on preventing COVID-19-associated mortality. This report describes decedents with laboratory-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using data from 1) the standardized CDC case-report form (case-based surveillance) (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/reporting-pui.html) and 2) supplementary data (supplemental surveillance), such as underlying medical conditions and location of death, obtained through collaboration between CDC and 16 public health jurisdictions (15 states and New York City).

Factors associated to parent's willingness to accept the influenza vaccine for their children.

UNLABELLED: Influenza vaccination is the most effective method to prevent influenza virus infection and its potentially serious complications OBJECTIVE: To determine fac tors associated to parents willingness to accept the influenza vaccine for their children. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 297 volunteer parents/caregivers during 2011. RESULTS: Only 40% of the parents planne to have their children vaccinated agains influenza. Most subjects had medical insurance (52% government, 44% private, 4% no insurance). Factors associated to parents willingness to accept the vac cine were having the vaccine previously. thinking that the vaccine was safer this year. not knowing someone who had an influenza vaccine side effect and having a family member who had influenza. CONCLUSION: The 40% planned vaccinatio rate lies below the 80% Healthy Peopl 2020 goal and seems to be unassociated to access to healthcare services. Establishing campaigns that reassure parents of vaccine safety could attain a higher vaccination rate.

Tuberculosis Contact Investigations Conducted in New York City Adult Day Care and Senior Centers, 2011-2018.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple tuberculosis (TB) exposures have been reported in New York City (NYC) adult day care and senior centers. Strategies to identify TB transmission at such locations are needed. METHOD: Review of the NYC TB Registry identified 12 contact investigations (CIs) at adult day care or senior centers (2011-2018). RESULTS: Median age of the 12 index patients was 81 years. Of 148 contacts identified who had no history of TB infection or disease, 141 (95%) were tested for TB, primarily with interferon gamma release assays; 46 (33%) tested positive. Transmission was probable (n = 3) or possible (n = 1) at 4 (33%) centers; at all of these, the index patient had an acid-fast bacilli-positive sputum smear. Transmission was not found from index patients with negative sputum smears. DISCUSSION: We found evidence of transmission of smear-positive respiratory TB disease to contacts in adult day care or senior centers, underscoring the importance of CI.