Abstract

COVID-19 Epidemiology During University Campus Public Health Response

Clara Rivera, MPH, Jeffrey Kovach, MS, Karli Redinger, Jessica Hervol, Sarah Markt, ScD, MPH, Sara Lee, MD, Daniel Tisch, PhD, MPH Case Western Reserve University

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Background: Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a systematic campus-wide disease surveillance and testing system, social distancing, masking, and vaccination.

Objective: Quantify the impact of campus COVID-19 surveillance by comparing positive tests a) between campus groups and b) regional data.

Methods: Any individuals on-campus or entering campus were required to participate in weekly COVID-19 RT-PCR testing provided by the University. Chi-square analyses were used to compare test-positivity by campus group (student/staff/faculty), over time (academic periods, pandemic waves) and by region (using County and state public test data). Repeated positive tests were censored for 12 weeks.

Results: 162,957 PCR tests were conducted on campus faculty, staff, and students from November 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Antigen tests were also available to on-campus undergraduate students beginning in October 2021 (n=19,577). Testing frequency remained steady during the 2020/2021 academic year (5,000 tests per week), dropped in the summer, and spiked to 8,000 tests per week when students returned to campus at the start of the 2021/2022 academic year. In total, 321 faculty/staff and 649 students have been identified as COVID-19. Though longitudinal trends mirror community waves of transmission, test positivity rates at CWRU remained significantly lower than county or state test-positivity rates during matched time points. Infection and reinfection test-positive rates were lowest in resident students (4.3%) vs. off-campus students (5.8%; p<0.001) and staff/faculty (7.0%; p<0.001).

Conclusion: These data demonstrate the successful public health impact of a COVID-19 asymptomatic testing strategy in a vibrant city campus environment.

Abstract

Active symptom monitoring prevents hundreds of COVID-19 cases on the University of Utah campus

Kristine Snyder, MPH, Kimberly Shoaf, DrPH, Teresa Garrett, DNP RN PHNA-BC University of Utah

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Background
Active symptom monitoring is an imperative tool for disease containment. It is especially useful when caseload outweighs the manpower for traditional contact tracing. In January 2022 an outbreak of COVID-19 B.1.1.529, otherwise known as the Omicron variant occurred on the University of Utah campus. There were 3,673 confirmed cases and 21,373 exposed individuals as a result of the outbreak. In comparison, there were 725 confirmed cases and 7,230 exposed individuals in January of 2021.
Objective
The active symptom monitoring system was designed to identify additional COVID-19 cases to minimize spread.
Methods
The University of Utah contact tracing team conducted active symptom monitoring for the 21,373 exposed individuals using an automated reporting system for 10 days following their last known exposure. The contacts were texted and emailed a symptom report form once a day and up to three times daily if they did not respond. The symptom data were collected in the University of Utah Contact Tracing Contact Investigation database. Individuals that reported symptoms were asked to test and isolate until their symptoms resolved.
Results
Within the active monitoring system 2,133 individuals reported symptoms following an exposure. The team identified 255 individuals that converted from exposed to confirmed with an odds ratio of 4.83. Isolating the identified suspected and confirmed cases potentially prevented hundreds of additional cases.
Conclusion
Active symptom monitoring is an effective way to minimize the impact of an outbreak. It could be used for infectious disease control beyond COVID-19 and for subsequent COVID-19 variants in education institutions.

Abstract

COVID-19 Vaccination status and perspectives among California college students

Anji Buckner, EdD, MPH, Marcelle Dougan, ScD, MPH, MEng San José State University

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Background: Young adults, including college students, represent the lowest COVID-19 vaccinated group and the highest indicating wait and see and only if required. Objectives: This mixed methods study identified COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for not getting vaccinated, and underlying beliefs towards vaccine mandates among college students. Methods: We used an online survey administered to 4,731 students recruited through social media and email. Descriptive statistics examined reasons for non-vaccination and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for non-vaccination. Results: 18% had not been vaccinated. Variables associated with non-vaccination included: ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio aOR for White vs Asian, 1.69 (95% CI 1.16 - 2.46), unvaccinated household member, 8.82 (6.99 - 10.87), and party affiliation. Compared to those with no affiliation, Progressives had 0.07 (0.02 - 0.24) and Democrats 0.33 (0.24 - 0.44) times the odds, whereas Republicans had 1.68 (1.12 - 2.21) times the odds of being unvaccinated. Concerns about side effects (61%), speed of vaccine development (49%), and vaccine safety (43%) were the most common reasons for non-vaccination. These concerns were echoed in context to the institutional vaccine mandate: “We are not aware of any possible long term side effects and I think it is unfair to make your students take that risk if they don't trust the vaccine yet. Conclusion: College students are diverse in their practices and beliefs. Public health messages to improve vaccination uptake should consider these differences.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in College Students in a Rural Southern State

Jaimi L. Allen, PhD, CHES¹, Benjamin C. Amick III, PhD², Mark L. Williams, PhD³, Joshua L. Kennedy, MD⁴, Karl W. Boehme, PhD⁵, J Craig Forrest, PhD⁶, Brian Primack, MD, PhD⁷, Erica Ashley Sides, BS⁸, Wendy N. Nembhard, PhD¹, Stephanie F. Gardner, PharmD, EdD⁹, Jessica Snowden, MD¹⁰, Laura P. James, MD¹¹, Ericka Olgaard, DO¹², Jay Gandy, PhD¹³ (1)Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (2)Department of Epidemiology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (3)Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (4)Department of Pediatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas, (5)Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Centre for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (6)Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (7)Department of Public Health and Medicine, University of Arkansas, (8)Translational Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (9)College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (10)Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, (11)Department of Pediatrics, Translational Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (12)Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, (13)Department of Environmental Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Introduction: University students offer a unique population for assessing COVID-19 prevalence and incidence and how they are influenced with varying campus social behaviors. Our study followed university students’ SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence along with detailed demographic and behavioral questionnaire assessments over time.
Methods: Randomly selected college students (N=340) in a predominantly rural Southern state provided blood samples and completed self-administered questionnaires at 3 time points throughout the academic year: September 2020, December 2020, and March 2021.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was 18.2% in September 2020, 13.1% in December, and 45.5% in March 2021. SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was associated with attending large social gatherings, staying local for summer break, symptoms of fatigue or rhinitis, and using social media as the primary information source. During the last period, seroprevalence was also associated with receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination. Unadjusted results found associations with fraternity and sorority (Greek) membership and attendance at Greek events.
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was higher in this population of college students than previous studies and the surrounding community. Results can assist leaders to make informed COVID-19 mitigation decisions as new variants threaten college campuses.