The spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Spain: Hygiene habits, sociodemographic profile, mobility patterns and comorbidities

Abstract

COVID-19 constitutes the largest pandemic in the last 100 years. In view of the rapid spread of the virus, it is necessary to study the sociodemographic characteristics, hygiene habits, activity and mobility, and comorbidities of SARS-CoV-2 infection to be able to implement prevention strategies. For this purpose, a survey including the variables of interest was designed to try to understand the exponential spread of the virus despite the implemented severe restrictive mobility measures during the period of maximum confinement in Spain. This study conducted throughout the Spanish territory aims to clarify other routes of transmission of the COVID-19 during confinement, risk factors, and the effectiveness of the recommended hygiene measures to detect critical points of exposure to the virus and thus reduce its spread in this and possible future pandemics that could compromise public health. Our results show that living with a COVID-19 patient increased the risk of contagion by 60 times. Among all the sociodemographic variables analyzed, walking the dog have shown to have the strongest effect by increasing the risk by 78%. The most effective hygiene measure reducing the prevalence of the disease was the disinfection of products purchased from the market upon arrival home (which reduced the risk by 94%), above other hygiene measures, such as wearing masks, gloves, ethanol disinfection, bleaching and others. The mobility variable studied that showed the largest increase in the prevalence of the disease was working on site at the workplace (increased the risk by 76%). A significant higher prevalence of the disease was also detected among respondents who used the modality of acquiring basic commodities using home delivery service compared to those who chose in-store shopping.

Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to guide vaccination strategy in an urban area

“…In contrast, infections within lower socioeconomic groups may result from multiple sources. This observation aligns with the possibility that low socioeconomic status may relate to jobs requiring higher personal contact, and compulsory mobility 38 , which has been shown to increase the risk of infection by 76% 39 .…”

SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Impact on Pediatric Emergency Rooms: A Multicenter Study

“…Our results are similar to previous studies that have demonstrated the same trend in both child and adult patients [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. We can speculate that social-distancing measures, the use of face masks, hand washing, and the complete closure of social activities may have contributed not only to the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 diffusion [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ] but also to the reduction of the spread of other diseases, particularly of acute communicable diseases, as confirmed in a recent study [ 41 ]. Acute communicable diseases represent the most common clinical conditions in children; in fact, up to 11 respiratory tract infections per year in infancy, 8 episodes per year at pre-school age, and 4 episodes per year at school age could be considered as normal [ 64 ].…”

“…This study has some limitations. First, no direct measures of social distancing or other strategies were taken in order to evaluate their contribution for reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne infections, as other authors have done in previous studies [ 41 , 52 , 63 ]. Moreover, social distancing measures, the use of face masks, hand washing, and the complete closure of social activities were assumed to be followed.…”

Assessment of CO2 and aerosol (PM2.5, PM10, UFP) concentrations during the reopening of schools in the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of a metropolitan area in Central-Southern Spain

“…In this document, guidance to prevent the introduction and spread of SARS-COV-2 in educational settings, to be taken at both school and classrooms levels, includes environmental measures as i) “maintaining clean environment: frequent cleaning of surfaces and shared objects”; and ii) “ensuring adequate and appropriate ventilation with priority for increased fresh outdoor air by opening windows and doors”. For instance, although sharing indoor space has been confirmed as a major risk factor in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 ( Allen and Marr, 2020 ; Qian et al, 2020 ; Rodríguez-Barranco et al, 2021 ), enhanced ventilation may be a key element in limiting the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other infectious agents in enclosed environments ( Li et al, 2007 ; Morawska et al, 2020 ).…”