Preventing COVID-19 spread in closed facilities by regular testing of employees-An efficient intervention in long-term care facilities and prisons?
Henri Christian Junior Tsoungui Obama,Nessma Adil Mahmoud Yousif,Looli Alawam Nemer,Pierre Marie Ngougoue Ngougoue,Gideon A. Ngwa,Miranda I. Teboh-Ewungkem,Kristan A. Schneider +6 more
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In this article, the simulation model underlying the pandemic preparedness tool CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) is extended to investigate the effect of regularly testing of employees to protect immobile resident risk groups in closed facilities.Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Different levels of control measures were introduced to contain the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of which have been controversial, particularly the comprehensive use of diagnostic tests. Regular testing of high-risk individuals (pre-existing conditions, older than 60 years of age) has been suggested by public health authorities. The WHO suggested the use of routine screening of residents, employees, and visitors of long-term care facilities (LTCF) to protect the resident risk group. Similar suggestions have been made by the WHO for other closed facilities including incarceration facilities (e.g., prisons or jails), wherein parts of the U.S., accelerated release of approved inmates is taken as a measure to mitigate COVID-19. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Here, the simulation model underlying the pandemic preparedness tool CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) is extended to investigate the effect of regularly testing of employees to protect immobile resident risk groups in closed facilities. The reduction in the number of infections and deaths within the risk group is investigated. Our simulations are adjusted to reflect the situation of LTCFs in Germany, and incarceration facilities in the U.S. COVID-19 spreads in closed facilities due to contact with infected employees even under strict confinement of visitors in a pandemic scenario without targeted protective measures. Testing is only effective in conjunction with targeted contact reduction between the closed facility and the outside world-and will be most inefficient under strategies aiming for herd immunity. The frequency of testing, the quality of tests, and the waiting time for obtaining test results have noticeable effects. The exact reduction in the number of cases depends on disease prevalence in the population and the levels of contact reductions. Testing every 5 days with a good quality test and a processing time of 24 hours can lead up to a 40% reduction in the number of infections. However, the effects of testing vary substantially among types of closed facilities and can even be counterproductive in U.S. IFs. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of COVID-19 in closed facilities is unavoidable without a thorough screening of persons that can introduce the disease into the facility. Regular testing of employees in closed facilities can contribute to reducing the number of infections there, but is only meaningful as an accompanying measure, whose economic benefit needs to be assessed carefully.read more
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Non-pharmacological measures implemented in the setting of long-term care facilities to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and their consequences: a rapid review
Jan M. Stratil,Renke Biallas,Jacob Burns,Laura Arnold,Karin Geffert,Angela Kunzler,Angela Kunzler,Ina Monsef,Julia Stadelmaier,Katharina Wabnitz,Tim Litwin,Clemens Kreutz,Anna Helen Boger,Saskia Lindner,Saskia Lindner,Ben Verboom,Ben Verboom,Stephan Voss,Ani Movsisyan +18 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the effects of non-pharmacological measures implemented in long-term care facilities to prevent or reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents, staff, and visitors.
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Rapid testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
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Rapid testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
TL;DR: In this paper , a connection is made from the normal COVID-19 immune response to the design and efficacy of rapid testing, which stands out amongst peer platforms due to its cost-effective design, user-friendly interface and low sample-to-readout times.
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The impact of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns accounting for antibody-dependent enhancement.
Nessma Adil Mahmoud Yousif,Henri Christian Junior Tsoungui Obama,Yvan Jordan Ngucho Mbeutchou,Sandy Frank Kwamou Ngaha,Loyce Kayanula,George Kamanga,Toheeb Babatunde Ibrahim,Patience Bwanu Iliya,Sulyman B. Iyanda,Looli Alawam Nemer,Kristina Barbara Helle,Miranda I. Teboh-Ewungkem,Kristan A. Schneider +12 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce a complex extension of the model underlying the pandemic preparedness tool CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) to optimize vaccination strategies with regard to the onset of campaigns, vaccination coverage, vaccination schedules, vaccination rates, and efficiency of vaccines.
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Evaluation and clinical implications of the time to a positive results of antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2.
Yusaku Akashi,Shigeyuki Notake,Yoshihiko Kiyasu,Yoshihiko Kiyasu,Atsuo Ueda,Yuto Takeuchi,Kato Daisuke,Hiroichi Ishikawa,Yusaku Akashi,Miwa Kuwahara,Shino Muramatsu,Yuto Takeuchi,Atsuo Ueda,Justin R. Ellis,Shigeyuki Notake,Arnab Majumdar,Koji Nakamura,Hiroichi Ishikawa,Hiromichi Suzuki +18 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors collected additional nasopharyngeal samples from patients who had already tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription PCR and used the swab for an antigen test, QuickNavi™-COVID19 Ag, and the time periods to get positive results were measured.
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