Advocates for B.C.’s homeless population say the surprising results of COVID-19 testing among Boston’s homeless add new urgency to the need for housing.
Health workers in Boston were surprised when testing of all more than 350 residents at one shelter earlier this month revealed that more than 140 people staying there had the coronavirus — all of them asymptomatic.
Tests at two other Boston shelters found similar rates of asymptomatic infection. “Initially we didn’t think there was any asymptomatic spread, or maybe a small percentage of people may be spreading it asymptotically,” said Jim O’Connell, president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless. “As we’ve been looking around, I think everywhere there is probably asymptomatic spread. “If