---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:recommendations/high-risk-populations"
type: "GovLab policy recommendation"
title: "High-risk populations"
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/high-risk-populations"
summary: "Governments should prioritize conducting tests among populations with a high probability of 1) contracting the virus; 2), spreading it to others; and 3) suffering serious consequences as a result of infection."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# High-risk populations

Governments should prioritize conducting tests among populations with a high probability of 1) contracting the virus; 2), spreading it to others; and 3) suffering serious consequences as a result of infection.

- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/), [all recommendations](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations)

## Strategy 1

Define high-risk populations who will receive prioritized testing. Governments should develop a working definition of which populations are high risk. Groups can be added to this list,but the list should identify populations that are at higher risk of contracting and having complications from COVID-19 due to physical health,behavioral health,or economic/social factors.

- Timeframe: 3-6 Months (medium)
- Audience: Civil Society, Vulnerable Populations, Essential Workers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Research, Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Data, Partnerships, Vulnerable Populations
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/define-high-risk-populations-who-will-receive-prio

### Actions governments should take (strategy 1)

1. Review population-level data to identify high-risk groups by health-condition, profession, race/ethnicity, age, or other demographic or socio/economic factors
2. Split identified groups into those needing immediate attention and those who will be at high risk in the future (e.g. food insecure populations)
3. Ensure criteria for test allocation is transparent, explicit, simple, and consistently followed
4. Post definitions publicly to ensure transparency and accountability

### Examples from around the world (strategy 1)

1. [Colombia’s Emergency Fund is identifying high-risk groups, including prison populations, people who have attended large gatherings, and people with known exposure to the virus, in order to test them and isolate them as needed to reduce the spread of the virus. This was done by leveraging the contact tracing methodology from Johns Hopkins University and adapting the strategies to Colombia’s social context and implementing its own Testing, Tracing, Isolation – or Pruebas, Rastreo y Aislamiento Sostenible (PRASS) program,](https://thecitypaperbogota.com/features/understanding-colombias-strategy-to-win-the-war-on-covid-19/25408)

## Strategy 2

Partner with community and cultural leaders. Governments should conduct specific outreach and form partnerships with community and cultural leaders to 1) understand needs and concerns of specific communities and 2) amplify public health messaging encouraging surveillance,diagnostic,and screening testing.

- Timeframe: 3-6 Months (medium)
- Audience: Civil Society, Vulnerable Populations, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Partnerships, Vulnerable Populations
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/partner-with-community-and-cultural-leaders.-gover

### Actions governments should take (strategy 2)

1. Conduct outreach to specific community and cultural leaders to understand optimal strategies for increasing access to testing for high-risk populations in their community
2. Encourage community and cultural leaders to proactively advocate for frequent testing in their communities
3. Provide talking points or education materials to community or cultural leaders describing the benefits of testing and what actions to take depending on testing results

## Strategy 3

Make testing free for low income or high-risk populations. Governments should reduce barriers to testing by making testing free for specific populations,ideally for screening or surveillance purposes.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Civil Society, Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Providers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Communications, Vulnerable Populations, Procurement/Logistics
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/make-testing-free-for-low-income-or-high-risk-popu

### Actions governments should take (strategy 3)

1. Investigate if testing fees can be waived by government health agencies mandated to provide health services to low income individuals
2. [Consider legislative or regulatory actions that could support low-cost or free testing for identified high-risk populations](https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-families-first-coronavirus-response-act)

## Strategy 4

Develop and use culturally and contextually relevant communication materials for testing resources. Governments and public health officials should make all communication materials targeted at high-risk or vulnerable populations accessible and culturally-relevant.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Civil Society, Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Providers, Government Workers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Communications, Partnerships, Vulnerable Populations
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/develop-and-use-culturally-and-contextually-releva

### Actions governments should take (strategy 4)

1. [Publish a mythbusters pamphlet dispelling common rumors or misinformation about testing](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters)
2. Translate all testing materials into relevant languages and ensure materials are at the appropriate literacy level to ensure accessibility
3. Provide testing information materials at testing locations in various languages, including specific information on what steps to take after receiving a specific result and how to get test results.

## Strategy 5

Rapidly conduct snapshot pooled testing among staff and residents in health and long-term care facilities,prisons,and other congregate housing facilities. Governments should conduct snapshot pooled testing to provide a baseline that will help establish subsequent testing strategies within these settings,including the frequency of testing.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Providers, Organized Civil Society
- Type: Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Partnerships, Vulnerable Populations, Procurement/Logistics
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/rapidly-conduct-snapshot-pooled-testing-among-staf

### Actions governments should take (strategy 5)

1. Identify partners with the capacity of conducting pooled tests
2. [Develop a strategy for identifying an appropriate pool size in collaboration with the testing partner (see above section on pooled testing)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zKEiumAM1lKJBdijORviBacpkbE9Z63V5tHWq2f4nms/edit#heading=h.eknnyhp8ymh0)
3. Develop a plan for what will happen to staff who test positive

### Examples from around the world (strategy 5)

1. [Seattle](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/coronavirus-testing-drive-through-seattle.html), [Chicago](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/health_protection_and_response/news/2020/june/mayor-lori-lightfoot-announces-covid-19-mobile-testing-pilot-pro.html), the state of [Wisconsin](https://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/wisconsin-national-guard-conducting-mobile-testing-at-sites-around-the-state/), and other local and state governments have set up mobile testing centers to safely collect samples from healthcare workers and other high-risk or vulnerable populations.

## Strategy 6

Ensure adequate testing resources are available and accessible to high-risk communities. Governments should establish testing sites in communities with large numbers of high-risk individuals.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Providers, Government Workers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Partnerships, Vulnerable Populations, Procurement/Logistics
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/ensure-adequate-testing-resources-are-available-an

### Actions governments should take (strategy 6)

1. Locate testing sites in areas that allow for access to populations with transportation barriers
2. Operate testing sites during specific times when populations that work non-traditional hours may have more availability, such as mornings, nights, or weekends
3. Ensure testing site design accommodates populations that may have accessibility needs including language or physical disabilities

### Examples from around the world (strategy 6)

1. The municipal government of Lima created a [temporary shelter](https://www.radionacional.com.pe/noticias/locales/entregan-pruebas-rapidas-de-covid-19-para-personas-indigentes) for citizens in a state of abandonment that are specifically vulnerable to the spread of the virus. They did this by revamping an old historical building in 60 days and equipping it with the necessary equipment to provide food, shelter, and medical service, including testing for COVID-19.

## Strategy 7

Reduce barriers to testing by conducting mobile testing units. To address transportation limitations,non-traditional work schedules,and lack of access that may keep some communities from getting tested,governments should strategically implement mobile testing units that travel to vulnerable communities.

- Timeframe: 3-6 Months (medium)
- Audience: Civil Society, Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Providers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Technology/Innovation, Vulnerable Populations, Procurement/Logistics
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/reduce-barriers-to-testing-by-conducting-mobile-te

### Actions governments should take (strategy 7)

1. Direct mobile testing sites to locations where high-risk populations are likely to congregate
2. Operate testing sites during specific times when populations that work non-traditional hours may have more availability, such as mornings, nights, or weekends
3. Ensure testing site design accommodates populations that may have accessibility needs including language or physical disabilities

### Examples from around the world (strategy 7)

1. [Seattle](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/coronavirus-testing-drive-through-seattle.html), [Chicago](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/health_protection_and_response/news/2020/june/mayor-lori-lightfoot-announces-covid-19-mobile-testing-pilot-pro.html), the state of [Wisconsin](https://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/wisconsin-national-guard-conducting-mobile-testing-at-sites-around-the-state/), and other local and state governments have set up mobile testing centers to safely collect samples from healthcare workers and other high-risk or vulnerable populations.