Pandemic vs. pandemic: COVID-19 hampers fight against HIV The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the fight against HIVAs COVID-19 swept through the South, Mel Prince watched with alarm as some of the HIV positive patients she helps in the rural Black Belt stopped showing up for lab tests and doctor's visits. “We’re losing people who are doing HIV testing and focusing on HIV to the COVID-19 response," said Ace Robinson, with the national nonprofit HIV eradication group, NMAC. HIV workers contacted by The Associated Press in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas all reported a drop in HIV testing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Lee Storrow sought an HIV test in North Carolina in June, but staff at the clinic he contacted said they were focused on testing for COVID-19. Johnson, CEO of an HIV testing organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Source: ABC News September 14, 2020 12:24 UTC