In Atlanta, Homeless Service Providers Prepare For Coronavirus Spread

Traffic passes by the belongings of homeless person in Denver in 2016. Those who are homeless are vulnerable to the respiratory illness for several reasons, Dr. Mark Swancutt said in Atlanta. If they stay in a shelter, then they’re in a confined space with other people. If they sleep outside, they face a different problem. They likely have little access to soap and water — the basics for washing hands.

David Zalubowski / Associated Press file

The number of cases tied to the new coronavirus continues to grow in Georgia. The spread of the illness creates a unique threat for the state’s residents who don’t have a home.

Dr. Mark Swancutt with the Georgia Department of Public Health told a group of Atlanta homeless service providers Tuesday that they should expect to be busy.

“People who already suffer from some sort of disparities are probably going to be affected more than others,” Swancutt said.