Nearly 60 people who are homeless are isolating at hotel after COVID-19 exposure
About 60 people who are homeless have suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus — or have been exposed to someone who does, Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said Thursday.
Harris briefed members of the General Assembly about the county’s response to COVID-19. She told them 58 people — all but one who are homeless — are staying in a hotel leased by the county for people who have tested positive for the virus, display symptoms and are awaiting results, or have been exposed to someone with the virus and need somewhere to isolate.
“We know we have COVID-19 in our homeless population,” Harris said. “We’ve had several test positive.”
Harris said the county is working with shelters to move out people with symptoms and reduce the risk of additional spread. County officials said in late March they had leased hotels to isolate individuals who display COVID-19 symptoms and to reduce crowding in the shelters.
The hotel designated for isolation and quarantine is not restricted to people who are homeless, but also is for those who has no other place to safely self-isolate, county officials have said.
Government and shelter leaders have identified the homeless population as particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic because it is more difficult to practice social distancing and good hygiene habits, and many people have underlying health conditions.
The Men’s Shelter of Charlotte/Urban Ministry Center last month announced a series of changes in response to the coronavirus, including screening incoming guests for symptoms, pausing in-person volunteers and rearranging the layout at the shelter to space people out.
“This is continuing to be a challenge for us,” Harris told lawmakers, noting the growing homeless population in the county. She said job losses due to coronavirus-related closures could make it worse.
Nearly 3,800 people in Mecklenburg County are homeless as of Feb. 29, according to county data.
This work was made possible in part by grant funding from Report for America/GroundTruth Project and the Foundation For The Carolinas.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 3:19 PM.
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