COVID-19 Screening in Homeless Drug Addicts by the Deputy of Health of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Homeless drug addicts are one of the high-risk groups for COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. Therefore, early diagnosis in this group, in addition to reducing mortality in them, will prevent the transmission of the disease in the community. Tehran University of Medical Sciences has made a special effort to screen COVID-19 in drug addicts, the results are mentioned here.

In this descriptive study, the available data of Covid-19 screening in the areas covered by Tehran University of Medical Sciences were used. The collected data were analyzed after initial refinement using descriptive methods such as frequency and bar and line graphs.

A total of 11485 PCR tests were performed during the study period to screen COVID-19 in drug addicts. The results of screening were 696 positive cases of Covid-19 (6.04% out of the total tests) among drug addicts. The positive cases in Shafaq and Fashafoyeh camps were 9.62 % and 3.77 %, respectively. Most tests were performed in May, June, August and November 2020.

Performing more than 11,000 diagnostic tests in the group of addicts, indicates the special efforts of Tehran University of Medical Sciences to provide fair services and early diagnosis of COVID-19 in this vulnerable group.