The risks and benefits of providing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
John StoverSherrie L KellyEdinah MudimuDylan GreenTyler SmithIsaac TaramusiLoveleen Bansi-MatharuRowan Martin-HughesAndrew N PhillipsAnna BershteynPublished in: PloS one (2021)
While there is some additional short-term risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with providing HIV services, the risk of additional COVID-19 deaths is at least 100 times less than the HIV deaths averted by those services. Ministries of Health need to take into account many factors in deciding when and how to offer essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work shows that the benefits of continuing key HIV services are far larger than the risks of additional SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- antiretroviral therapy
- hiv positive
- healthcare
- hiv infected
- hiv testing
- human immunodeficiency virus
- hepatitis c virus
- primary care
- hiv aids
- mental health
- men who have sex with men
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- coronavirus disease
- public health
- south africa
- human health
- risk assessment
- social media
- medical education