Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

November 17, 2020

Optimizing COVID-19 Control with Asymptomatic Surveillance Testing in a University Environment

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[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] A SARS-CoV-2 transmission model parametrized to the University of California, Berkeley community found that an approach combining group size limits, rapid symptom-based isolation and contact tracing, and targeted high frequency asymptomatic surveillance testing offers the most cost-effective outbreak control. The model suggests reducing group sizes to a maximum of 12 greatly reduces the chances of superspreader events. Targeting high-risk populations, such as students living in high-density housing, with biweekly surveillance testing that prioritizes turnaround time over test sensitivity, was effective in overcoming the challenge of asymptomatic infections.

Brook et al. (Nov 16, 2020). Optimizing COVID-19 Control with Asymptomatic Surveillance Testing in a University Environment. Pre-print downloaded Nov 17 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.12.20230870