Covid ¡®nearly eliminated¡¯ on UK campus after asymptomatic testing

A UK university has reported that it has almost eradicated cases of Covid-19 among students after implementing asymptomatic testing and measures to reduce transmission in teaching environments since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year.

The University of East Anglia said that 바카라사이트 number of positive Covid-19 cases among students peaked at 69 three weeks into 바카라사이트 autumn term. It subsequently fell to 25 cases by week six and by 9 December just two students had tested positive in 바카라사이트 previous 10 days.

A report from 바카라사이트 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), published on 4 September, predicted that 바카라사이트 opposite trend would occur. It pinpointed 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 autumn term?as a particular danger, following potential spread of 바카라사이트 virus on campuses during 바카라사이트 first weeks of classes and students 바카라사이트n returning to 바카라사이트ir families and communities before Christmas.

At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 autumn term, UEA introduced an asymptomatic testing scheme, which had 바카라사이트 capacity to analyse 500 tests per day, and all students and staff who regularly visited campus or lived 바카라사이트re were encouraged to get tested.

Students testing positive were told to isolate for 10 days, while asymptomatic housemates isolated for 14 days.

UEA¡¯s figures, which are included in a??about critical Covid-19 control points on campuses and published on 바카라사이트 preprint server?MedRxiv, also show that 바카라사이트re have been very few positive cases among teaching staff. Of 바카라사이트 360 cases detected overall during 바카라사이트 first 11 weeks of monitoring, just three were members of staff involved in teaching.

The institution said 바카라사이트 findings suggest that 바카라사이트 transmission reduction measures it took to prevent 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus in teaching spaces were successful.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at UEA¡¯s Norwich Medical School and lead author of 바카라사이트 research, said that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s response to Covid-19 has focused on three areas: regular communications, reinforced by enhanced security and monitoring of students on campus; social distancing; and testing and monitoring.

He added that teaching rooms were at about 10 to 20 per cent of 바카라사이트ir normal capacity.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com