Interventions to Disrupt Coronavirus Disease Transmission at a University, Wisconsin, USA, August–October 2020

Currie, Dustin W.; Moreno, Gage K.; Delahoy, Miranda J.; Pray, Ian W.; Jovaag, Amanda; Braun, Katarina M.; Cole, Donald R.; Shechter, Todd; Fajardo, Geroncio; Griggs, Carol; Yandell, Brian S.; Goldstein, Steve; Bushman, Dena; Segaloff, Hannah E; Kelly, Gabrielle; Pitts, Collin; Lee, Christine; Grande, Katarina M; Kita-Yarbro, Amanda; Grogan, Brittany; Mader, Sara; Baggott, Jake; Bateman, Allen C.; Westergaard, Ryan P.; Tate, Jacqueline E.; Friedrich, Thomas C.; Kirking, Hannah L.; O’Connor, David H.; Killerby, Marie E.

doi:10.3201/eid2711.211306

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…Regardless of the presence of symptoms, both universities requested that all students living in campus dormitories schedule bi-weekly SARS-CoV-2 viral diagnostic tests at semester start, then modified to weekly testing (beginning September 26) in response to increased positivity rates. University A had an outbreak that included on-campus housing units that coincided with student move-in, prompting increased frequency of viral testing [ 24 ]. For all students with a positive viral test result, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine protocols were initiated, and the positive student was exempt from subsequent campus surveillance testing for 90 days based on CDC recommendations [ 25 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and serial viral testing in university students

et al. 2022

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Background To improve understanding of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we examined seroprevalence, incidence of infection, and seroconversion among a cohort of young adults living on university campuses during the fall of 2020. Methods At the beginning (semester start) and end (semester end) of an 11-week period, serum collected from 107 students was tested using the qualitative Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG and AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assays. Results were matched to interim weekly surveillance viral testing and symptom data. Results With the SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay, 15 (14.0%) students were seropositive at semester start; 29 (27.1%) students were seropositive at semester end; 10 (9.3%) were seropositive at both times. With the AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay, 17 (16.3%) students were seropositive at semester start, 37 (35.6%) were seropositive at semester end, and 16 (15.3%) were seropositive at both times. Overall, 23 students (21.5%) had positive viral tests during the semester. Infection was identified by serial testing in a large majority of individuals who seroconverted using both assays. Those seropositive at semester end more frequently reported symptomatic infections (56.5%) than asymptomatic infections (30.4%). Conclusion Differences between antibody targets were observed, with more declines in antibody index values below the threshold of positivity with the anti-nucleocapsid assay compared to the anti-spike assay. Serology testing, combined with serial viral testing, can detect seroconversions, and help understand the potential correlates of protection provided by antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and serial viral testing in university students

et al. 2022

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“…Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, university campuses have been sites of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks [20][21][22][23] . Many universities provide free, convenient testing to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 surveillance within campus communities 20,22,24 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants on a university campus

Weil

Luiten

Casto

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Novel variants continue to emerge in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. University testing programs may provide timely epidemiologic and genomic surveillance data to inform public health responses. We conducted testing from September 2021 to February 2022 in a university population under vaccination and indoor mask mandates. A total of 3,048 of 24,393 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR; whole genome sequencing identified 209 Delta and 1,730 Omicron genomes of the 1,939 total sequenced. Compared to Delta, Omicron had a shorter median serial interval between genetically identical, symptomatic infections within households (2 versus 6 days, P=0.021). Omicron also demonstrated a greater peak reproductive number (2.4 versus 1.8) and a 1.07 (95% confidence interval: 0.58, 1.57; P<0.0001) higher mean cycle threshold value. Despite near universal vaccination and stringent mitigation measures, Omicron rapidly displaced the Delta variant to become the predominant viral strain and led to a surge in cases in a university population.

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“…Student residences hold additional risk to the community since the age cohort they belong to has a larger average number of social contacts than other cohorts 5 . Despite these risks, there is a paucity of data on the range of secondary attack rates (SAR) one may find in student residences, which risk factors underpin the observed variation in transmission and how they compare to regular households [6][7][8] . Some studies suggest a higher risk of transmission if residents share living spaces 9 or if residents do not adhere to prevention measures 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study in Leuven, Belgium from October 2020 until May 2021

Vanbesien

Molenberghs

Geenen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background Student residences are at high risk for rapid COVID-transmission due to crowding and frequent close contact. Aim We aimed to investigate the overall secondary attack rates (SAR) in student residences and to discern risk factors for higher transmission in order to improve the evidence base for screening efforts and preventive measures. Methods In this retrospective case-ascertained study, we analysed data from student residences screened in Leuven, Belgium between October 2020 and May 2021, following detection of a COVID-19 case in the residence. We investigated the impact on the SAR in the living units screened of delay-time until follow-up, shared use of kitchen or sanitary facilities, presence of an external infection source and occurrence of social gatherings attended by the index case. Results We included 200 residence units, representing 2326 screened residents, of which 68 units showed secondary transmission. The overall SAR was estimated at 0.0813 (95%CI 0.0705-0.0936). Both sharing sanitary facilities (p=0.04) and social gatherings attended by the index case (p=0.033) significantly impacted SAR, which increased from 3% to 13% when both risk factors were present compared to absent. Conclusions We identify risk factors which should be considered when selecting students for screening during an outbreak of COVID-19 in student residences to improve comprehensiveness and proportionality of testing. The identified risk factors improve the evidence base for preventive measures aimed at limiting social gatherings and improving ventilation of shared spaces in outbreak-prone settings. Lastly, they should be considered when designing student accommodation and other shared households.

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Interventions to Disrupt Coronavirus Disease Transmission at a University, Wisconsin, USA, August–October 2020

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

A cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and serial viral testing in university students

A cohort study measuring SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion and serial viral testing in university students

Mapping the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants on a university campus

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study in Leuven, Belgium from October 2020 until May 2021

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