학술논문
SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance and Outbreak Response on an Urban American College Campus
Document Type
Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Reports - Research
Author
Steven A. Towers (ORCID 0000-0002-7784-2439 ); Nigussie B. Gemechu (ORCID 0000-0001-5285-484X ); Nitasha C. Nagaraj (ORCID 0000-0002-6417-6692 ); Megan M. Landry (ORCID 0000-0003-3906-0601 ); Patrick Beane (ORCID 0000-0003-2379-2314 ); Gary A. Sardon (ORCID 0000-0002-3637-0746 ); Emily C. Weiss; Cindy M. Liu; Daniel E. Park (ORCID 0000-0001-5139-5397 ); Maliha Aziz; Lynn R. Goldman (ORCID 0000-0002-1104-3407 ); Amita N. Vyas (ORCID 0000-0003-2358-5569 ); Karen A. McDonnell; Amanda D. Castel (ORCID 0000-0002-9095-2413 )
Source
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0744-8481
1940-3208
1940-3208
Abstract
Objective: The George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C., USA established the Public Health Laboratory and Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST) to develop and implement its SARS-CoV-2 surveillance testing and outbreak response for the 2020-2021 academic year. Participants and Methods: Approximately 4,000 GW members had access to campus for living accommodations, limited in-person instruction, athletics, research, and university operations. The outbreak response included daily risk assessment surveys, weekly surveillance testing, symptomatic and voluntary testing, case investigation, and contact tracing. Results: Between August 17 - November 24, 2020, 42,350 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were performed, and 194 (0.46%) of tests were positive. Surveillance testing identified 59 (30.4%); voluntary testing 97 (50%); and symptomatic testing 30 (15.5%) of the cases, respectively. Conclusions: Robust testing of asymptomatic people and rapid isolation and quarantine of members who are exposed or infected effectively limited the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the Fall 2020 semester.