Publications by authors named "Lydia Watson-Lewis"
Article Synopsis
- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health revised its COVID-19 contact tracing methods in summer 2021 due to limited personnel resources.
- The new protocol focuses on prioritizing recent cases and reduces the time spent on each case from 21-30 hours down to 8-11 hours.
- Despite the adjustment, the department was able to maintain the effectiveness of the contact tracing program.
Trends in Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections and Associated Hospitalizations and Deaths Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years - 18 U.S. Jurisdictions, September 2021-December 2022.
Kevin C Ma
,
Vajeera Dorabawila
,
Tomás M León
,
Hannah Henry
,
Amelia G Johnson
,
Lydia Watson-Lewis
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- Reinfections of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. have become more common, especially during the Omicron variant period, rising from 2.7% during Delta to 28.8% in Omicron BQ.1/BQ.1.1.
- Hospitalizations and deaths linked to reinfections also increased significantly, going from 1.9% and 1.2% of COVID-19-related cases during Delta, to 17.0% and 12.3% during Omicron BQ.1/BQ.1.1.
- Younger adults (18-49 years) had higher rates of reinfections compared to older adults (≥50 years), and it's crucial to stay updated on vaccinations
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 6 million deaths worldwide, leading to overwhelmed health departments and the need for private health systems to engage in contact tracing and outbreak control efforts.
- The study aimed to design and implement a volunteer contact tracing program at the University of Pennsylvania Health System to support COVID-19 patients and their contacts from April 2020 to May 2021.
- Out of 5470 COVID-19 patients contacted, 2982 were interviewed, revealing diverse demographic data and highlighting the program's importance in providing necessary resources during isolation and quarantine.