September 25, 2020
Sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific-antibodies in dried blood spot samples
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling was validated for detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. DBS sampling achieved a sensitivity of 98.1% and specificity of 100% for detecting anti-spike glycoprotein antibodies based on samples from 87 matched DBS and serum samples obtained from eighty individuals. Morley et al. (Sept 25, 2020). Sensitive detection of…
Assessment of Disparities in COVID-19 Testing and Infection Across Language Groups in Seattle, Washington
Out of a patient population of 562,242 in King County, WA, a slightly lower percentage of non-English speakers had been tested for SARS-CoV-2 compared to English-speakers (5% vs 6%), but the proportion of positive tests was 4.6-fold higher among non-English speakers (19% vs 4%). The elevated proportion of positive tests was observed across multiple languages….
Disparities in COVID-19 Incidence, Hospitalizations, and Testing, by Area-Level Deprivation — Utah, March 3–July 9, 2020
In Utah, areas classified as very high deprivation had three-fold higher risk of SARS-CoV2 infection when compared to low deprivation areas. Deprivation was measured using Utah’s health improvement index in the period of March 3-June 9, 2020 and high deprivation areas contained larger proportions of Hispanic and non-white residents. Rates of hospitalization and testing were…
Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children and Adolescents Compared With Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis (32 studies with 41,640 children and adolescents and 268,945 adults) found that children and adolescents younger than 20 years had 44% lower odds of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 after potential exposure to an index case (secondary attack rate) compared to adults 20 years and older. Data were insufficient to conclude…
Efficacy of masks and face coverings in controlling outward aerosol particle emission from expiratory activities
Surgical masks and unvented KN95 respirators reduce outward particle emissions by 90% during speaking and 74% during coughing, compared to wearing no mask. These masks decreased the outward particle emission of a coughing superemitter who produced up to two orders more expiratory particles than average. Due to experimental confounding, the study was not able to…
COVID-19 Literature Situation Report Sept. 25, 2020
Both surgical masks and KN95 masks reduce outward particle emissions during coughing (74% reduction) and speaking (90% reduction).
September 24, 2020
Conspiracy Theories as Barriers to Controlling the Spread of COVID-19 in the U.S
Survey respondents who endorsed COVID-19 conspiracy theories about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 were less likely to report wearing a mask, perceive the pandemic as a threat, perceive vaccines as safe, and report an intention to be vaccinated in a national longitudinal survey conducted in the US in March (n=1,050) and July (n=840). Vaccine hesitancy increased…
Occupational Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Compensation Claims Applications Support Establishing an Occupational Surveillance System
Using data from national compensation claims, 19.4% of all COVID-19 cases in Italy and 30% of cases among working-age adults were associated with a claim of infection acquired at the workplace. The employment sectors that were most affected were human health workers and social workers, which correspond to employment categories classified as high-risk during the…
Transmission Dynamics Reveal the Impracticality of COVID-19 Herd Immunity Strategies
Achieving herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 without overwhelming hospital capacity was found to be impractical in a modeling study, due to the need to change social distancing requirements over time and with little room for error. Suppression of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was possible with realistic levels of social distancing over several months. The transmission model was parameterized…
College Openings Mobility and the Incidence of COVID-19 Cases
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] In a modeling study, US counties containing a college campus that reopened with in-person instruction were found to have an average COVID-19 incidence increase of 0.024 cases per 1,000 residents over a two week period. Case increases were larger in counties with colleges that drew students coming from areas with increasing…
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