With more than 10,000 tests conducted, the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust continues robust COVID-19 testing, retesting and tracing for persons experiencing homelessness. Thanks to support from the Florida Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and a partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade (DOH), homeless are tested with regularity in an effort to mitigate transmission of the virus.
Tests administered across the continuum by the Homeless Trust and its partners since April 1 have resulted in a 2 percent infection rate. Enhanced screening procedures and other proactive protective measures which commenced prior to COVID-19 testing continues at both congregate living sites and with unsheltered individuals.
The Trust currently works with multiple mobile testing teams, including the Lazarus Project, a specialized outreach team targeting unsheltered persons with severe mental illness who are among the most service resistant. City of Miami Fire Rescue, Camillus Health Concern and Community Health of South Florida have also partnered with the Homeless Trust to ensure continued testing of unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness.
The Trust has also established additional quarantine and isolation (Q&I) locations for impacted populations with five locations now operational. Priority populations include those who are COVID-19 positive, including homeless persons pending discharge from area hospitals, individuals in close proximity with those who test positive and other persons at increased risk for severe illness, including seniors 65+. To date, more than 80,000 meals have been served to individuals staying Q&I sites since placement began in March.