The National Coalition of STD Directors released a new report highlighting the findings of a survey conducted by STD program directors, DIS, and STD and sexual health clinic administrators regarding the impact of COVID-19 response on the STD field. The report reveals:
- 83% of STD progarms are deferring STD services or field visits
- 62% of STD programs cannot maintain HIV and syphilis caseloads
- 66% of clinics report a decrease in sexual health screening and testing
- 60% of clinics are experiencing reduced capacity to treat STDs; 22% report capacity has been reduced by more than half
- 57% of DIS report that they or other DIS in their jurisdictions have been redeployed to COVID-19
- Only 32% of DIS have capacity to perform field visits remotely or virtually