Risk of within-hotel transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during on-arrival quarantine in Hong Kong: an epidemiological and phylogenomic investigation

Adam, Dillon C.; Martín-Sánchez, Mario; Gu, Hongcang; Yang, Bingyi; Lin, Yun; Wu, Peng; Lau, Eric H. Y.; Leung, Gabriel M.; Poon, Leo L M; Cowling, Benjamin J.

doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100678

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, it should be noted that quarantine hotels are not designed with infection control and there is a risk of within hotel transmission between guests and/or staff. It has been estimated that 8–11 per 1,000 cases identified during hotel quarantine may be infected by another unlinked case during quarantine ( 71 ). Therefore, its impact on the characteristics of imported cases should be minimal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported COVID-19 cases into China: A scoping literature review

Zhang

Chen²,

Li³

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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Previous studies investigating the characteristics of imported cases were mostly limited to a certain province/city or a specific sub-group during a certain period with a small sample size, which may not provide an overall picture of the characteristics of imported cases. In this scoping literature review, we comprehensively synthesized the epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported COVID-19 cases into China by retrieving six literature databases, with aims to provide implications for more targeted control, prevention, and medical treatment of this disease. After dropping duplicates and reviewing titles, abstracts, and full-texts, 50 articles were included in the review finally, including 26 (52%) articles in English and 24 (48%) articles in Chinese. According to the type of data sources, the 50 studies were divided into three categories: 13 (26%) articles using data sourced from the Chinese Infectious Diseases Online Reporting System, 15 (30%) articles using data from the websites of national/local health departments, and 22 (44%) articles using hospital admission data. Most of the overseas imported COVID-19 cases were young and middle-aged Chinese students and businessmen returning from the United States, Europe, and some neighboring countries. Airport routine health screening measures could not identify COVID-cases effectively, although scheduled multiple nucleic acid tests were required before boarding. Almost all imported cases were identified during the hotel quarantine period. Although a large proportion of imported cases were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms in the published literature, they may be due to participant selection bias. The exact proportion of asymptomatic cases may need to be further investigated especially through population-based large-scale studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported COVID-19 cases into China: A scoping literature review

Zhang

Chen²,

Li³

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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“…The use of the systematic review methodology also meant that many studies did not meet the eligibility criteria of the examined reviews but nevertheless can provide important insights into the effectiveness of border control measures. For example, studies of quarantine failure, which is not an intervention per se, in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong provide interesting insights into the operational challenges of maintaining these strict border control regimes for international travellers [23,24]. Also, while all observational primary studies included in the reviews drew from data on observed COVID-19 cases, phylogenetic data on the introduction of specific viral lineages in relation to the timing of border control measures can also be insightful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of international border control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative synthesis of published systematic reviews

Grépin,

Aston,

Burns

2023

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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The effectiveness of international border control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic is not well understood. Using a narrative synthesis approach to published systematic reviews, we synthesized the evidence from both modelling and observational studies on the effects of border control measures on domestic transmission of the virus. We find that symptomatic screening measures were not particularly effective, but that diagnostic-based screening methods were more effective at identifying infected travellers. Targeted travel restrictions levied against travellers from Wuhan were likely temporarily effective but insufficient to stop the exportation of the virus to the rest of the world. Quarantine of inbound travellers was also likely effective at reducing transmission, but only with relatively long quarantine periods, and came with important economic and social effects. There is little evidence that most travel restrictions, including border closure and those implemented to stop the introduction of new variants of concern, were particularly effective. Border control measures played an important role in former elimination locations but only when coupled with strong domestic public health measures. In future outbreaks, if border control measures are to be adopted, they should be seen as part of a broader strategy that includes other non-pharmaceutical interventions. This article is part of the theme issue 'The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic: the evidence'.

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“…Two studies indicated that an effective strategy was a test upon entry followed by a 7-day quarantine and symptom monitoring, while extending quarantine periods beyond this had very little benefit [ 71 ▪ , 72 ]. Countries that implemented stringent on-arrival quarantines including Hong Kong and Australia did report occasional transmission events within the quarantine facilities [ 73 – 75 ]. Consequently, while the number of community introductions was decreased with on-arrival quarantine, just one escape can initiate community transmission.…”

Section: Travel-related Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonpharmaceutical interventions for managing SARS-CoV-2

Murphy

Wong

Cowling

2023

Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine

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Purpose of reviewInitial response strategies to the COVID-19 pandemic were heavily reliant on nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), a set of measures implemented to slow or even stop the spread of infection. Here, we reviewed key measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent findingsSome NPIs were successful in reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Personal protective measures such as face masks were widely used, and likely had some effect on transmission. The development and production of rapid antigen tests allowed self-diagnosis in the community, informing isolation and quarantine measures. Community-wide measures such as school closures, workplace closures and complete stay-at-home orders were able to reduce contacts and prevent transmission. They were widely used in the pandemic and contributed to reduce transmission in the community; however, there were also negative unintended consequences in the society and economy.SummaryNPIs slowed the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and are essential for pandemic preparedness and response. Understanding which measures are more effective at reducing transmission with lower costs is imperative.

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Risk of within-hotel transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during on-arrival quarantine in Hong Kong: an epidemiological and phylogenomic investigation

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported COVID-19 cases into China: A scoping literature review

Epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported COVID-19 cases into China: A scoping literature review

Effectiveness of international border control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative synthesis of published systematic reviews

Nonpharmaceutical interventions for managing SARS-CoV-2

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