SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk from asymptomatic carriers : Results from a mass screening programme in Luxembourg

© 2021 The Author(s)..

BACKGROUND: To accompany the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown measures, Luxembourg implemented a mass screening (MS) programme. The first phase coincided with an early summer epidemic wave in 2020.

METHODS: rRT-PCR-based screening for SARS-CoV-2 was performed by pooling of samples. The infrastructure allowed the testing of the entire resident and cross-border worker populations. The strategy relied on social connectivity within different activity sectors. Invitation frequencies were tactically increased in sectors and regions with higher prevalence. The results were analysed alongside contact tracing data.

FINDINGS: The voluntary programme covered 49% of the resident and 22% of the cross-border worker populations. It identified 850 index cases with an additional 249 cases from contact tracing. Over-representation was observed in the services, hospitality and construction sectors alongside regional differences. Asymptomatic cases had a significant but lower secondary attack rate when compared to symptomatic individuals. Based on simulations using an agent-based SEIR model, the total number of expected cases would have been 42·9% (90% CI [-0·3, 96·7]) higher without MS. Mandatory participation would have resulted in a further difference of 39·7% [19·6, 59·2].

INTERPRETATION: Strategic and tactical MS allows the suppression of epidemic dynamics. Asymptomatic carriers represent a significant risk for transmission. Containment of future outbreaks will depend on early testing in sectors and regions. Higher participation rates must be assured through targeted incentivisation and recurrent invitation.

FUNDING: This project was funded by the Luxembourg Ministries of Higher Education and Research, and Health.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:4

Enthalten in:

The Lancet regional health. Europe - 4(2021) vom: 28. Mai, Seite 100056

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Wilmes, Paul [VerfasserIn]
Zimmer, Jacques [VerfasserIn]
Schulz, Jasmin [VerfasserIn]
Glod, Frank [VerfasserIn]
Veiber, Lisa [VerfasserIn]
Mombaerts, Laurent [VerfasserIn]
Rodrigues, Bruno [VerfasserIn]
Aalto, Atte [VerfasserIn]
Pastore, Jessica [VerfasserIn]
Snoeck, Chantal J [VerfasserIn]
Ollert, Markus [VerfasserIn]
Fagherazzi, Guy [VerfasserIn]
Mossong, Joël [VerfasserIn]
Goncalves, Jorge [VerfasserIn]
Skupin, Alexander [VerfasserIn]
Nehrbass, Ulf [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Asymptomatic
COVID-19
Contact tracing
Journal Article
Mass screening
RRT-PCR
SARS-CoV-2

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 23.04.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100056

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM325491151