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Napolitano JM, Srikanth S, Noorai RE, Wilson S, Williams KE, Rosales-Garcia RA, Krueger B, Emerson C, Parker S, Pruitt J, Dango R, Iyer L, Shafi A, Jayawardena I, Parkinson CL, McMahan C, Rennert L, Peng CA, Dean D. SARS-CoV-2 variant introduction following spring break travel and transmission mitigation strategies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301225. [PMID: 38722935 PMCID: PMC11081374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND University spring break carries a two-pronged SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission risk. Circulating variants from universities can spread to spring break destinations, and variants from spring break destinations can spread to universities and surrounding communities. Therefore, it is critical to implement SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance and testing strategies to limit community spread before and after spring break to mitigate virus transmission and facilitate universities safely returning to in-person teaching. METHODS We examined the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate and changes in variant lineages before and after the university spring break for two consecutive years. 155 samples were sequenced across four time periods: pre- and post-spring break 2021 and pre- and post-spring break 2022; following whole genome sequencing, samples were assigned clades. The clades were then paired with positivity and testing data from over 50,000 samples. RESULTS In 2021, the number of variants in the observed population increased from four to nine over spring break, with variants of concern being responsible for most of the cases; Alpha percent composition increased from 22.2% to 56.4%. In 2022, the number of clades in the population increased only from two to three, all of which were Omicron or a sub-lineage of Omicron. However, phylogenetic analysis showed the emergence of distantly related sub-lineages. 2022 saw a greater increase in positivity than 2021, which coincided with a milder mitigation strategy. Analysis of social media data provided insight into student travel destinations and how those travel events may have impacted spread. CONCLUSIONS We show the role that repetitive testing can play in transmission mitigation, reducing community spread, and maintaining in-person education. We identified that distantly related lineages were brought to the area after spring break travel regardless of the presence of a dominant variant of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Napolitano
- Clemson University, Research and Education in Disease Diagnostics and Intervention Clemson, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sujata Srikanth
- Clemson University, Research and Education in Disease Diagnostics and Intervention Clemson, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Rooksana E. Noorai
- Clemson University, Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Stevin Wilson
- Clemson University, Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Illumina, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn E. Williams
- Clemson University, Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Clemson University, Center for Human Genetics, Greenwood, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ramses A. Rosales-Garcia
- Clemson University, Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brian Krueger
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Chloe Emerson
- Clemson University, Research and Education in Disease Diagnostics and Intervention Clemson, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Scott Parker
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - John Pruitt
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Rachel Dango
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lax Iyer
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Adib Shafi
- Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Iromi Jayawardena
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christopher L. Parkinson
- Clemson University, Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christopher McMahan
- Clemson University, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lior Rennert
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Clemson University, Center for Public Health Modeling and Response, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Congyue Annie Peng
- Clemson University, Research and Education in Disease Diagnostics and Intervention Clemson, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Delphine Dean
- Clemson University, Research and Education in Disease Diagnostics and Intervention Clemson, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
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Negishi N, Yamano R, Hori T, Koura S, Maekawa Y, Sato T. Development of a high-speed bioaerosol elimination system for treatment of indoor air. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2023; 227:109800. [PMID: 36407015 PMCID: PMC9651995 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We developed a high-speed filterless airflow multistage photocatalytic elbow aerosol removal system for the treatment of bioaerosols such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human-generated bioaerosols that diffuse into indoor spaces are 1-10 μm in size, and their selective and rapid treatment can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A high-speed airflow is necessary to treat large volumes of indoor air over a short period. The proposed system can be used to eliminate viruses in aerosols by forcibly depositing aerosols in a high-speed airflow onto a photocatalyst placed inside the system through inertial force and turbulent diffusion. Because the main component of the deposited bioaerosol is water, it evaporates after colliding with the photocatalyst, and the nonvolatile virus remains on the photocatalytic channel wall. The residual virus on the photocatalytic channel wall is mineralized via photocatalytic oxidation with UVA-LED irradiation in the channel. When this system was operated in a 4.5 m3 aerosol chamber, over 99.8% aerosols in the size range of 1-10 μm were removed within 15 min. The system continued delivering such performance with the continuous introduction of aerosols. Because this system exhibits excellent aerosol removal ability at a flow velocity of 5 m/s or higher, it is more suitable than other reactive air purification systems for treating large-volume spaces.
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Key Words
- AOP, advanced oxidation process
- Bioaerosol
- CFD, computational fluid dynamics
- COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019
- DES, detached eddy simulation
- HEPA, high-efficiency particulate absorbing
- ISO, International Standard Organization
- Indoor air
- LES, Large eddy simulation
- RANS, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SCDLP, soya casein-digested lecithin polysorbate
- TiO2 photocatalyst
- UV, ultraviolet
- UVA, ultraviolet-A
- UVC, ultraviolet-C
- Windspeed
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Negishi
- Environment Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-16 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamano
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, 275-0016, Japan
| | - Tomoko Hori
- Environment Management Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-16 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Setsuko Koura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, 275-0016, Japan
| | - Yuji Maekawa
- Kamaishi Electric Machinery Factory Co. Ltd., 9-171-4 Kasshi-cho, Kamaishi, 026-0055, Japan
| | - Taro Sato
- Kamaishi Electric Machinery Factory Co. Ltd., 9-171-4 Kasshi-cho, Kamaishi, 026-0055, Japan
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Bilinski A, Ciaranello A, Fitzpatrick MC, Giardina J, Shah M, Salomon JA, Kendall EA. Estimated Transmission Outcomes and Costs of SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Testing, Screening, and Surveillance Strategies Among a Simulated Population of Primary School Students. JAMA Pediatr 2022; 176:679-689. [PMID: 35442396 PMCID: PMC9021988 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.1326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In addition to illness, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to historic educational disruptions. In March 2021, the federal government allocated $10 billion for COVID-19 testing in US schools. OBJECTIVE Costs and benefits of COVID-19 testing strategies were evaluated in the context of full-time, in-person kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8) education at different community incidence levels. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS An updated version of a previously published agent-based network model was used to simulate transmission in elementary and middle school communities in the United States. Assuming dominance of the delta SARS-CoV-2 variant, the model simulated an elementary school (638 students in grades K-5, 60 staff) and middle school (460 students grades 6-8, 51 staff). EXPOSURES Multiple strategies for testing students and faculty/staff, including expanded diagnostic testing (test to stay) designed to avoid symptom-based isolation and contact quarantine, screening (routinely testing asymptomatic individuals to identify infections and contain transmission), and surveillance (testing a random sample of students to identify undetected transmission and trigger additional investigation or interventions). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Projections included 30-day cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, proportion of cases detected, proportion of planned and unplanned days out of school, cost of testing programs, and childcare costs associated with different strategies. For screening policies, the cost per SARS-CoV-2 infection averted in students and staff was estimated, and for surveillance, the probability of correctly or falsely triggering an outbreak response was estimated at different incidence and attack rates. RESULTS Compared with quarantine policies, test-to-stay policies are associated with similar model-projected transmission, with a mean of less than 0.25 student days per month of quarantine or isolation. Weekly universal screening is associated with approximately 50% less in-school transmission at one-seventh to one-half the societal cost of hybrid or remote schooling. The cost per infection averted in students and staff by weekly screening is lowest for schools with less vaccination, fewer other mitigation measures, and higher levels of community transmission. In settings where local student incidence is unknown or rapidly changing, surveillance testing may detect moderate to large in-school outbreaks with fewer resources compared with schoolwide screening. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this modeling study of a simulated population of primary school students and simulated transmission of COVID-19, test-to-stay policies and/or screening tests facilitated consistent in-person school attendance with low transmission risk across a range of community incidence. Surveillance was a useful reduced-cost option for detecting outbreaks and identifying school environments that would benefit from increased mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Bilinski
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island,Department of Biostatistics, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Andrea Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Meagan C. Fitzpatrick
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - John Giardina
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maunank Shah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joshua A. Salomon
- Center for Health Policy, Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Emily A. Kendall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Bilinski A, Ciaranello A, Fitzpatrick MC, Giardina J, Shah M, Salomon JA, Kendall EA. SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies to contain school-associated transmission: model-based analysis of impact and cost of diagnostic testing, screening, and surveillance. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.05.12.21257131. [PMID: 34401893 PMCID: PMC8366814 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.12.21257131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background In March 2021, the Biden administration allocated $10 billion for COVID-19 testing in schools. We evaluate the costs and benefits of testing strategies to reduce the infection risks of full-time in-person K-8 education at different levels of community incidence. Methods We used an agent-based network model to simulate transmission in elementary and middle school communities, parameterized to a US school structure and assuming dominance of the delta COVID-19 variant. We assess the value of different strategies for testing students and faculty/staff, including expanded diagnostic testing ("test to stay" policies that take the place of isolation for symptomatic students or quarantine for exposed classrooms); screening (routinely testing asymptomatic individuals to identify infections and contain transmission); and surveillance (testing a random sample of students to signaling undetected transmission and trigger additional investigation or interventions). Main outcome measures We project 30-day cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection; proportion of cases detected; proportion of planned and unplanned days out of school; and the cost of testing programs and of childcare costs associated with different strategies. For screening policies, we further estimate cost per SARS-CoV-2 infection averted in students and staff, and for surveillance, probability of correctly or falsely triggering an outbreak response at different incidence and attack rates. Results Accounting for programmatic and childcare costs, "test to stay" policies achieve similar model-projected transmission to quarantine policies, with reduced overall costs. Weekly universal screening prevents approximately 50% of in-school transmission, with a lower projected societal cost than hybrid or remote schooling. The cost per infection averted in students and staff by weekly screening is lower for older students and schools with higher mitigation and declines as community transmission rises. In settings where local student incidence is unknown or rapidly changing, surveillance may trigger detection of moderate-to-large in-school outbreaks with fewer resources compared to screening. Conclusions "Test to stay" policies and/or screening tests can facilitate consistent in-person school attendance with low transmission risk across a range of community incidence. Surveillance may be a useful reduced-cost option for detecting outbreaks and identifying school environments that may benefit from increased mitigation.
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