Seroprevalence Study and Cross-Sectional Survey on COVID-19 for a Plan to Reopen the University of Alicante (Spain)

Jose Tuells, Cecilia M. Egoavil, María Angeles Pena Pardo, Ana C. Montagud, Emilia Montagud, Pablo Caballero, Pedro Zapater, Joan Puig-Barberá and Jose Antonio Hurtado-Sanchez
Additional contact information
Jose Tuells: Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Cecilia M. Egoavil: Clinical Pharmacology Unit, General University Hospital of Alicante, Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL Foundation), C/Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
María Angeles Pena Pardo: Clinical Pharmacology Unit, General University Hospital of Alicante, Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL Foundation), C/Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
Ana C. Montagud: Immunology Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Emilia Montagud: Primary Care Pharmacy Service, University Hospital of Torrevieja, 03186 Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain
Pablo Caballero: Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Pedro Zapater: Clinical Pharmacology Unit, General University Hospital of Alicante, Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL Foundation), C/Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain
Joan Puig-Barberá: Vaccines Research Area FISABIO, 46020 Valencia, Spain
Jose Antonio Hurtado-Sanchez: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: The implementation of strategies to mitigate possible cases of COVID-19 were addressed at the University of Alicante for the safe reopening of the 2020/2021 academic year. To discover the prevalence of immunity against SARS-CoV-2, a study was designed using a rapid immunoassay test (carried out between 6 and 22 July 2020), and in addition a cross-sectional survey was conducted on risk factors, symptoms, predisposition for becoming vaccinated, and sources of information about COVID-19. A random sample, stratified by students, faculty, and administrative staff, was selected. The seroprevalence found was 2.64% (39/1479; 95% CI 1.8–3.4), and the adjusted seroprevalence was 2.89% (95% CI 2.1–3.7). The average age of the students was 23.2 years old, and 47.6 years old for staff. In relation to COVID-19, the following was found: 17.7% pauci-symptomatic, 1.3% symptomatic, 5.5% contact with cases, 4.9% confined, and 0.3% PCR positive. More than 90% complied with preventive measures. The proportion willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was 91%. Their sources of information were the Internet (74%) and television (70.1%). They requested that the university offer information (45.1%), training (27%), and provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (26.3%). Lastly, 87.9% would repeat the test. A plan was established that included the follow-up of cases and contacts, random sample testing, training courses, bimodal teaching, a specific website, and the distribution of PPE.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; epidemiology; serological assay; cross-sectional study; higher education institutions; universities; undergraduates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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