Abstract
Research has revealed that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections are important contributors to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in populations. In Egypt, the true prevalence of infections is veiled due to the low number of screening tests. The aim of this study was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate as well the seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before the ultimate development of a second wave of the epidemic in Cairo, Egypt. Our study was carried out between May 5 and the end of October 2020. It included all patients requiring admission to Ain Shams University hospitals. An interview questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Laboratory tests for all participants included RT-PCR and total antibody assay for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 4,313 subjects were enrolled in our study, with females representing 56% of the sample. Adults and middle-aged individuals represented around 60% of the study sample. The positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 PCR was 3.84% (95% CI 3.29-4.48), and the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was 29.82% (95% CI: 28.16-31.51). Males showed a higher risk for getting the COVID-19 infection, while middle-age group had significantly higher antibody seroprevalence rates. SARS-CoV-2 infection imposes a high burden on the community as detected by high seroprevalence rates.
Highlights
The new coronavirus, officially named “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),” infected around 155 million people worldwide by the beginning of May 2021, with more than 3 million related deaths [1], and the numbers are steeply increasing every day
The positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 PCR was 3.84%, and the SARSCoV-2 antibody seroprevalence was 29.82%
SARS-CoV-2 infection imposes a high burden on the community as detected by high seroprevalence rates
Summary
The new coronavirus, officially named “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),” infected around 155 million people worldwide by the beginning of May 2021, with more than 3 million related deaths [1], and the numbers are steeply increasing every day. In Egypt, the first peak of reported cases was recorded by June 2020, with about 65,000 infected cases and 2,789 deaths. The infected cases began to surge by November 2020 and reached around 231,803 by the beginning of May 2021, with 13,591 deaths [2]. The capital, Cairo, with its high-density population, took the lead among Egyptian governorates in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases, according to data declared by the Egyptian Ministry of Health [3]. Research has revealed that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections are important contributors to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in populations. The aim of this study was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate as well the seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before the ultimate development of a second wave of the epidemic in Cairo, Egypt
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