Abstract
Objectives: The first German SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was a superspreading event in Gangelt, North Rhine-Westphalia, during indoor carnival festivities called ‘Kappensitzung’ (15 February 2020). We determined SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity rate, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, and analysed the conditions and dynamics of superspreading, including ventilation, setting dimensions, distance from infected persons and behavioural patterns.
Design: In a cross-sectional epidemiological study (51 days postevent), participants were asked to give blood, pharyngeal swabs and complete self-administered questionnaires.
Setting: The SARS-CoV-2 superspreading event took place during festivities in the small community of Gangelt in February 2020. This 5-hour event included 450 people (6-79 years of age) in a building of 27 m × 13.20 m × 4.20 m.
Participants: Out of 450 event participants, 411 volunteered to participate in this study.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary outcome: infection status (determined by IgG ELISA).
Secondary outcome: symptoms (determined by questionnaire).
Results: Overall, 46% (n=186/404) of participants had been infected, and their spatial distribution was associated with proximity to the ventilation system (OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.86 to 2.25). Risk of infection was highly associated with age: children (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.267 to 0.414) and young adults (age 18-25 years) had a lower risk of infection than older participants (average risk increase of 28% per 10 years). Behavioural differences were also risk associated including time spent outside (OR 0.55, (95% CI 0.33 to 0.91) or smoking (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.124 to 0.81).
Conclusions: Our findings underline the importance of proper indoor ventilation for future events. Lower susceptibility of children/young adults indicates their limited involvement in superspreading.
Keywords: COVID-19; Infection control; VIROLOGY.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, infection control, Virology., 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, cross-sectional, children, susceptibility, Infection, Ventilation, risk, Symptom, smoking, outbreak, Community, age, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, behavioural, IgG ELISA, distribution, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, questionnaire, Blood, Pharyngeal swab, Questionnaires, Older, Participants, 95% CI, lower risk, participant, secondary outcome, North, Epidemiological study, dimensions, Lower, Complete, secondary, average risk, events, analysed, condition, indicate, asked, took place, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, cross-sectional, Dynamics, outcome, Germany, Epidemiological study,