Disparities in SARS-CoV-2 Positivity Rates: Associations with Race and Ethnicity

Numerous reports indicate that African Americans and Latinos are being affected disproportionately by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Positivity rates have not been analyzed on scale because only 4 states report race/ethnicity as part of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. Previous studies also had little ability to control for many known risk factors better identify the effects COVID-19 racial ethnic communities. Using test results from a large national reference laboratory database included patients all 50 District Columbia, this study compared positivity SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) among various groups linking zip code-based proportions US Census data. Analysis 2,331,175 unique tested March-May 2020 demonstrated an increasing trend in NAAT across Black non-Hispanic community progressive quintiles (from 7.8% 17.2%, P < 0.0001) Hispanic 8.4% 15.5%, decreasing White 17.4% 7.1%, 0.0001). These trends viral ribonucleic remained stratified analyses multivariable models controlled including sex, population density, initially hardest hit COVID-19. findings communities with highest populations rates, even after controlling other factors. More efforts needed mitigate increased impact both American