Evaluation of the Interplay between HIV and COVID-19 in a Large Urban Safety-net HIV Clinic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been moving quickly, including in areas of relatively high HIV prevalence, such as California. However, very little is known about how HIV and the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) interact, including whether HIV increases the risk of COVID-19; whether people with HIV develop long-lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after infection; and whether the mandate to socially distance, keep patients with HIV away from clinics, and to provide care by telephone will make it more difficult for patients to take their antiretroviral therapy and maintain virologic suppression. This study in a large urban HIV clinic will look at whether people living with HIV get COVID-19 more easily and have worse clinical outcomes and will look at whether the public health measures and social distancing will influence clinical and other outcomes (like depression, anxiety, food insecurity, housing issues) among people with HIV.