Study of early social contact patterns in the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is forcing people around the world to quarantine. To mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection, countries and workplaces have been under various stages of blockade since the infection was detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

In mid-April 2020, it was observed that 62% of employed adults worked remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This scenario continues and there are no standardized multi-site social contact studies conducted in the work environment. This sequence of studies will help you plan strategies for dealing with pandemic situations-pre-symptomatic and intra-onset.

It is estimated that 16% of influenza infections occur in the work environment due to social interactions and respiratory infections. Similarly, workplace conditions determine the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate.

The significant impact of remote work on COVID-19 needs to be evaluated. This can be achieved by assessing changes in social contact patterns.In this context, Moses C. Kitty et al. Recently published medRxiv* Preprinted paper for studying social contact patterns. This study characterized a mix across the work environment, including on-site and telecommuting.

We found that the median number of contacts per person per day was 2 per respondent. The author stratified this information by date of data collection, age, gender, race, and ethnicity. This information is widely available in anti-pandemic policies with similar settings.

The survey was conducted by two multinational consulting firms ((N1 = 275, N2 = 3000) and one university administration department ((N3 = 560)) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from April to June 2020. I participated. The order was valid. The employee opt-in to the survey by accepting an email invitation. Remote work is defined as any work location (home or public space) outside the designated workplace. The number of employees approached was 3,835, of which 357 (9.3%) responded. On the first day of contact, 304 completed both contact days. The result was milk on both days. Summarized from respondents who completed the product.

This survey was a cross-sectional non-probability survey using a standardized social contact diary filled out by respondents. Respondents recorded physical and non-physical contact over a two-day period at the end of each day.

Panel (A) shows the distribution of contacts by attribute: duration (minutes or hours). The type of contact was physical touch (Conv & Phys), physical only (Phys), or non-physical / conversation only (Conv only) conversation. Contact was repeated when observed on both days and unique when observed for only one day. Panel (B) shows the average number of contacts by age group over the two study days. The gray area on the x-axis indicates that all respondents were over 19 years old but were able to report contacts under 19 years old. The data shown in the graph is for 1,548 contacts recorded by 304 participants during the 608 diary.

The median contacts per respondent was 2 on both days 1 and 2.

Most of the contacts (55%) were related to conversation only-occurred at home (64%) and lasted more than 4 hours cumulatively (38%). Most contacts were repeated and were within the same age group. However, participants aged 30-59 reported mixing with intergenerational children.

This study compares with similar reports from the United Kingdom and China valid during shelter-in-place orders in a pandemic. Pre-pandemic data cannot be compared directly. The median of contacts is 2, but many of the contacts are repeated, which may limit the spread of the infection.

Mathematical models are used to predict and simulate the effects of interventions performed during a pandemic. These models are very sensitive to assumptions about how people acquire the infection and how it infects others.

Data about social contact patterns (frequency and nature of daily contact made by an individual) determine these assumptions. The author describes some of the choices and information biases that may exist in this study.

The authors propose a similar study to assess changes in contact patterns and parameterize mathematical models that explain disease transmission and post-blockade by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such studies can help reduce the risk of infection, investigate preventative measures, and reduce infection in the workplace.

*Important Notices

medRxiv Publish preliminary scientific reports that should not be considered definitive as they are not peer-reviewed, guide clinical / health-related behaviors, and should not be treated as established information.