ERIC Number: EJ1408460
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance and Outbreak Response on an Urban American College Campus
Steven A. Towers; Nigussie B. Gemechu; Nitasha C. Nagaraj; Megan M. Landry; Patrick Beane; Gary A. Sardon Jr.; Emily C. Weiss; Cindy M. Liu; Daniel E. Park; Maliha Aziz; Lynn R. Goldman; Amita N. Vyas; Karen A. McDonnell; Amanda D. Castel
Journal of American College Health, v72 n1 p319-327 2024
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.
Descriptors: COVID-19, Private Colleges, College Students, Disease Control, School Health Services, Public Health, Disease Incidence, Risk Assessment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: District of Columbia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A