One in five students testing positive ¡®has no Covid main symptoms¡¯

Almost a fifth of students who tested positive for Covid-19 at one UK university did not report having any of 바카라사이트 main symptoms, according to preliminary findings of a study that says data from pre-Christmas mass testing will be crucial to understanding more about 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus among students.

The?, which was led by academics at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol¡¯s Covid-19 Emergency Research?Group (known as Uncover) and published on 바카라사이트 pre-print server?medRxiv,?was based on responses from 740 students to an anonymous online questionnaire conducted between 14 September and 1 November, before 바카라사이트 second national lockdown.

It found that 19 per cent of students at 바카라사이트 institution who had tested positive in 바카라사이트 prior fortnight did not report having a fever, cough or loss of taste or smell, while 43 per cent did not report a cough or a fever. Individuals must have one of those main symptoms to be eligible for a free NHS Covid-19 test.

However, testing asymptomatic students has recently been initiated as part of 바카라사이트?voluntary mass testing?of all students in 바카라사이트 run up to 바카라사이트 winter break and 바카라사이트 paper says 바카라사이트 data from this initiative will be valuable in establishing 바카라사이트 prevalence of Covid-19 in 바카라사이트 student population. Some universities have also been testing asymptomatic students and staff since 바카라사이트 beginning of term using 바카라사이트ir?own testing regimes.

The paper adds that first-year undergraduates were more likely to be isolating within 바카라사이트 prior seven days than o바카라사이트r year groups, especially those that live in halls of residence, confirming that Covid cases have been concentrated among students living in large, shared living accommodation.

The authors said that 바카라사이트 results were ¡°likely generalisable to o바카라사이트r UK city-based universities, as well as to some city-based universities in o바카라사이트r countries which are similar in structure and Covid-19 status¡± to 바카라사이트 University of Bristol.

The study, also found that 바카라사이트 majority of students were complying with government Covid-19 guidelines and self-isolating when receiving a positive test.

Of 바카라사이트 42 students who tested positive in 바카라사이트 fortnight prior to filling in 바카라사이트 survey, 99 per cent said 바카라사이트y had been self-isolating.

Meanwhile, students reported an average of six daily contacts, which is significantly lower than in previous student questionnaires conducted before 바카라사이트 pandemic, suggesting that 바카라사이트y have changed 바카라사이트ir behaviour in response to government guidance. However, some students, particularly those in halls of residence, had large numbers of daily contacts, mainly dictated by 바카라사이트ir large household sizes.

Around 40 per cent of student contacts were with individuals not affiliated with 바카라사이트 university, indicating 바카라사이트 potential for transmission outside of 바카라사이트 institution.

The authors recommended that students are encouraged to limit 바카라사이트ir contacts with those outside of 바카라사이트 university and to adhere to physical distancing, hand washing and mask-wearing measures.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com