Abstract
University students have unique living, learning and social arrangements which may have implications for infectious disease transmission. To address this data gap, we created CONQUEST (COroNavirus QUESTionnaire), a longitudinal online survey of contacts, behaviour, and COVID-19 symptoms for University of Bristol (UoB) staff/students. Here, we analyse results from 740 students providing 1261 unique records from the start of the 2020/2021 academic year (14/09/2020–01/11/2020), where COVID-19 outbreaks led to the self-isolation of all students in some halls of residences. Although most students reported lower daily contacts than in pre-COVID-19 studies, there was heterogeneity, with some reporting many (median = 2, mean = 6.1, standard deviation = 15.0; 8% had ≥ 20 contacts). Around 40% of students’ contacts were with individuals external to the university, indicating potential for transmission to non-students/staff. Only 61% of those reporting cardinal symptoms in the past week self-isolated, although 99% with a positive COVID-19 test during the 2 weeks before survey completion had self-isolated within the last week. Some students who self-isolated had many contacts (mean = 4.3, standard deviation = 10.6). Our results provide context to the COVID-19 outbreaks seen in universities and are available for modelling future outbreaks and informing policy.
Highlights
University students have unique living, learning and social arrangements which may have implications for infectious disease transmission
Due to their age, are less affected by COVID-19 morbidity and mortality than other g roups[4], up to one third still may be medically vulnerable to severe COVID-195 and all infected students still have the potential to transmit the virus to others
In addition to the national COVID-19 restrictions in place during Autumn 2020, UK universities implemented a range of measures to reduce transmission such as reducing the amount of in-person teaching through delivery of lectures online and restricting student living circles[6]
Summary
University students have unique living, learning and social arrangements which may have implications for infectious disease transmission To address this data gap, we created CONQUEST (COroNavirus QUESTionnaire), a longitudinal online survey of contacts, behaviour, and COVID-19 symptoms for University of Bristol (UoB) staff/students. In addition to the national COVID-19 restrictions in place during Autumn 2020, UK universities implemented a range of measures to reduce transmission such as reducing the amount of in-person teaching through delivery of lectures online and restricting student living circles[6]. Despite these measures, large outbreaks of COVID-19 occurred across many UK u niversities[6,7]. We aim to fill this knowledge gap and quantify the behaviours and contact patterns among students of the UoB during the start of the 2020/2021 academic term by carrying out an online survey
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