High household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States: living density, viral load, and disproportionate impact on communities of color.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few prospective studies of SARS-CoV-2 transmission within households have been reported from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are the highest in the world and the pandemic has had disproportionate impact on communities of color.

Methods and findings

This is a prospective observational study. Between April-October 2020, the UNC CO-HOST study enrolled 102 COVID-positive persons and 213 of their household members across the Piedmont region of North Carolina, including 45% who identified as Hispanic/Latinx or non-white. Households were enrolled a median of 6 days from onset of symptoms in the index case. Secondary cases within the household were detected either by PCR of a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab on study day 1 and weekly nasal swabs (days 7, 14, 21) thereafte

SUBMITTER: Cerami C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7987030 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature