"Data for the year 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV testing, care-related services, and case surveillance activities in state/local jurisdictions. The overall number of HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2020 (30,335) was 17% lower than in 2019 (Figure A). The decline in 2020 was larger than the average yearly decline (2%–3%) observed during 2017–2019. The underdiagnosis of HIV in 2020 was due to disruptions in clinical care services, patient hesitancy in accessing clinical services, and shortages in HIV testing reagents/materials [4–8]. To emphasize the need for caution, tables presenting data for the year 2020 include “COVID-19 pandemic” in the title, and the 2020 column is highlighted in tables that provide multiple years of data.
"During 2021, the overall number of HIV diagnoses in the United States (35,769) partially rebounded and was 18% higher than in 2020 (Figure A). The partial rebound in the number of HIV diagnoses may be due to the identification and reporting of HIV diagnoses missed in 2020. The ongoing impact of the pandemic on HIV testing, diagnoses, and treatment has varied by jurisdiction, with some recovering more slowly than others. In 2021, some jurisdiction’s levels of HIV testing, diagnoses, and treatment remained below pre-COVID-19 levels [9]. Increasing testing efforts and innovative strategies to reach persons with undiagnosed HIV infection are needed to offset this diagnosis gap. Death data for years 2020 and 2021 should be interpreted with caution due to excess deaths in the United States population attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional information, see https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss…. Assessments of trends in HIV diagnoses, deaths, and prevalence that include data for the year 2020 should be interpreted with caution."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report, 2021; vol. 34. Published May 2023. Accessed December 10, 2023.
