SOUTH KOREA - STUDY
…”We described the epidemiologic characteristics of a COVID-19 outbreak centered in a call center in South Korea. We identified 97 confirmed COVID-19 case-patients in building X, indicating an attack rate of 8.5%. However, if we restrict our results to the 11th floor, the attack rate was as high as 43.5%. …
... Despite considerable interaction between workers on different floors of building X in the elevators and lobby, spread of COVID-19 was limited almost exclusively to the 11th floor, which indicates that the duration of interaction (or contact) was likely the main facilitator for further spreading of SARS-CoV-2.
...In recent a US study, the symptomatic secondary attack rate among 445 close contacts of COVID-19 case-patients was 10.5% among household members (3). In this outbreak in South Korea, we found that the secondary attack rate within the household was 16.5% among symptomatic index case-patients, which is consistent with other reports.
...The role of asymptomatic COVID-19 case-patients in spreading the disease is of great concern. Among 97 confirmed COVID-19 case-patients in this study, 4 (4.1%) remained asymptomatic during the 14-days of monitoring. This rate is lower than the 30.8% rate estimated in previous modeling (4)...Previous reports have postulated that SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic (or presymptomatic) case-patients might become transmissible to others (6); however, given the high degree of self-quarantine and isolation measures that were instituted after March 8 among this cohort, our analyses might have not detected the actual transmissibility in asymptomatic COVID-19 case-patients. Robust mass testing of all suspected case-patients might have prevented asymptomatic transmission because asymptomatic persons were given information about their possible infection and therefore might have self-isolated from their household members....
... Date of symptom onset by office seat would be informative in understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in close contact area. However, our findings demonstrate the power of screening all potentially exposed persons and show that early containment can be implemented and used in the middle of national COVID-19 outbreak. By testing all potentially exposed persons and their contacts to facilitate the isolation of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 case-patients, we might have helped interrupt transmission chains...
...In summary, this outbreak exemplifies the threat posed by SARS-CoV-2 with its propensity to cause large outbreaks among persons in office workplaces. Targeted preventive strategies might help mitigate the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection in these vulnerable group.
complete writeup:
Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Call Center, South Korea
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/8/20-1274_article
That’s interesting.
I’ll tell hubby if he has to go in to the office a whole lot to stay AWAY from people as much as possible.
I wonder what extent the company restrooms facilitated the spread (aerosolized the virus when flushed).
so, just throwing this out there, from the Korea workplace study above, 4% of asyies remain asyie at 14 days. Most of America has been officially locked down, well, the middle class restricted anyway, for over 30 days, with masks catching on in the last week or so. Are there any asyies left at this point? If so, what would be our ‘clear’ date?
I think the Brit DP patient lasted some 37 days before he double-tapped negative. How does that fit with our states’ restrictions? Another week of masking? Two?