Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Patients Admitted for Childbirth in Southern Connecticut
Katherine H. Campbell, MD, MPH1; Jean M. Tornatore, MD2; Kirsten E. Lawrence, MD1; et al Jessica L. Illuzzi, MD1; L. Scott Sussman, MD3; Heather S. Lipkind, MD1; Christian M. Pettker, MD1
Author Affiliations Article Information
JAMA. Published online May 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8904
Developing an approach to care for pregnancy and childbirth during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis is a priority to (1) provide safe care to pregnant women and newborns; and (2) protect health care workers from infection. A study conducted in New York City reported a 13.5% prevalence of asymptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in women presenting for childbirth.1 On March 30, 2020, an initially asymptomatic woman admitted to the Yale New Haven Health system developed cough and fever soon after childbirth; testing confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. This event prompted the development of a SARS-CoV-2 screening and testing program of patients presenting for childbirth; we report the prevalence detected in the first weeks of the program.
