Low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among patients presenting at a Parisian psychiatry University Hospital Group

Eur J Psychiatry. 2023 Apr-Jun;37(2):133-135. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpsy.2020.09.003. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Abstract

We examine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among patients admitted to a Parisian psychiatric University Hospital Group (GHU). A total of 548 patients were admitted to the GHU...s full-time psychiatric wards between April 6 and May 3 2020. More than 80% were tested. A total of 7 patients tested positive for the SARS-Cov-2 (1.3%), with 5 patients (in 92, 5.4%) testing positive in the first week. GHU patients presented a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, even if all patients live in the hardest hit region in France. Social isolation and loneliness, as well as self-isolation of patients with symptoms could explain our results.

Keywords: Covid-19 prevalence; Psychiatric patients; SARS-CoV-2.