Who’s taking charge of testing Miami’s homeless for COVID-19? No one, so far | Editorial
While so many of us are sequestered safely in our homes, others in our community are not. They are in crowded shelters, or living on the street, or in abandoned buildings. They’re certainly not following social distancing, but how could they?
They are among those who struggle most in our society, the homeless among us, and we owe them our compassion. And these days, we owe them a healthy existence, which will ensure that for the rest of us.
In Miami-Dade’s fight to flatten the coronavirus curve, they are an obvious weak link. But they have been left behind when it comes to testing. It’s a dangerous oversight.
According to Ron Book, chair of Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, the homeless are being treated like second-class citizens in the local battle against the coronavirus.
Book, an ardent champion of the nearly 4,000 homeless identified is on the warpath to get Miami-Dade’s homeless population tested. Now.
But he is adamantly refusing to accept non-FDA or CDC-approved testing for the homeless — the Rapid Test, highly touted by President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Book, however, is insisting on the more trustworthy swab tests. And he’s right, mostly.
“Just because they’re homeless doesn’t mean they should not get the right test,” Book told the Editorial Board. He added the 2,000 rapid tests for coronavirus offered him come from a foundation and the makers. Book says several experts have told him that rapid response serological tests are less reliable and of limited value.
Still, any test might be better than nothing.
Why care about the homeless? It’s basic human compassion toward those who are among the most vulnerable in our community; the public health concern demands that we test those for whom sheltering in place, social distancing and acquiring masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, bleach and other protections are almost impossible.
There have been heroic volunteers, such as Dr. Armen Henderson, a University of Miami internist, who last month tested homeless in Miami’s Overtown. But more rigor and uniformity is needed.
A doctor from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is scheduled to visit Miami shelters on Thursday to make recommendation on how to further fight the spread of the virus.
Unbelievably, three weeks into the crisis, Book says no testing has been arranged for the homeless at the trust’s several shelters — the busiest being the Chapman Center in downtown Miami. Ditto for his staff of 470, who come in close contact with the homeless. Tasked with ending homelessness in Miami-Dade, the trust keeps the most accurate homeless population numbers.
“I consider them first responders and they should be tested as such,” Book said. “They go out there every day and interact with the homeless in the streets.”
A spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county is aware of the testing needs among the homeless. “We continue to help the trust find suitable testing kits and PPEs,” said Myriam Marquez. The state has also helped, but shortages are everywhere. Book says he understands, but also needs more masks, gloves and gowns for his staff.
He says he has no idea how many of the 1,024 homeless who live on the streets and the 2,500 plus in shelters some of the time are carrying the virus. “I’m too frightened to guess,” he said. So are we, but they are the weakest link in this fight.
A plan is needed, from the state, the county, and even the private sector, to get the homeless tested, soon, for the sake of us all.