SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and outbreak response on an urban American college campus

Authors

Steven A. Towers, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Nigussie B. Gemechu, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Nitasha C. Nagaraj, Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Megan M. Landry, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Patrick Beane, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Gary A. Sardon, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Emily C. Weiss, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Cindy M. Liu, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Daniel E. Park, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Maliha Aziz, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Lynn R. Goldman, Office of the Dean, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Amita N. Vyas, Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Karen A. McDonnell, Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Amanda D. Castel, Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-8-2022

Journal

Journal of American college health : J of ACH

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2022.2034834

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2; case investigation; surveillance

Abstract

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.

APA Citation

Towers, Steven A.; Gemechu, Nigussie B.; Nagaraj, Nitasha C.; Landry, Megan M.; Beane, Patrick; Sardon, Gary A.; Weiss, Emily C.; Liu, Cindy M.; Park, Daniel E.; Aziz, Maliha; Goldman, Lynn R.; Vyas, Amita N.; McDonnell, Karen A.; and Castel, Amanda D., "SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and outbreak response on an urban American college campus" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 616.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/616

Department

Epidemiology