May 13, 2021

Results of a Shortened Quarantine Protocol on a Midwestern College Campus

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Keywords (Tags): college, congregate settings, non-pharm interventions

• No evidence of onward SARS-CoV-2 transmission was observed among college students released from quarantine after 7 days at the University of Notre Dame between September and November 2020. The 7-day quarantine protocol required both a negative PCR test on day 4 and a negative antigen test on day 7. Among 1,130 asymptomatic contacts of index cases who completed the 7-day quarantine, 11% were PCR positive on day 4, and 1% (15 of 1,167) had positive rapid antigen tests on day 7. Overall, 6% (74 of 1,152) of individuals completing the 7-day quarantine tested positive, 76% (56 of 74) of whom were beyond the 14-day quarantine period following initial exposure and 18 were within 14 days of initial exposure. Nine of the 18 were detected during routine screening tests while the other 9 were seeking a test for symptom onset, new exposure, or both.

Fox et al. (May 12, 2021). Results of a Shortened Quarantine Protocol on a Midwestern College Campus. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab342