This cohort study analyzed persistent symptoms among adults with coronavirus disease 2019 up to 9 months after illness onset.

Highlights d Pan-coronavirus phage display library maps epitopes in patients with COVID-19 d Most immune responses target SARS-CoV-2 S, N, and ORF1ab sequences d Certain epitopes include sites of mutation in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern d Evidence for cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and endemic human CoVs

Novel variants continue to emerge in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. University testing programs may provide timely epidemiologic and genomic surveillance data to inform public health responses. We conducted testing from September 2021 to February 2022 in a university population under vaccination and indoor mask mandates. A total of 3,048 of 24,393 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR; whole genome sequencing identified 209 Delta and 1,730 Omicron genomes of the 1,939 total sequenced. Compared to Delta, Omicron had a shorter median serial interval between genetically identical, symptomatic infections within households (2 versus 6 days, P = 0.021). Omicron also demonstrated a greater peak reproductive number (2.4 versus 1.8), and a 1.07 (95% confidence interval: 0.58, 1.57; P < 0.0001) higher mean cycle threshold value. Despite near universal vaccination and stringent mitigation measures, Omicron rapidly displaced the Delta variant to become the predominant viral strain and led to a surge in cases in a university population.

Background We aimed to evaluate a testing program to facilitate control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission at a large university and measure spread in the university community using viral genome sequencing. Methods Our prospective longitudinal study used remote contactless enrollment, daily mobile symptom and exposure tracking, and self-swab sample collection. Individuals were tested if the participant was exposed to a known SARS-CoV-2 infected person, developed new symptoms, or reported high-risk behavior (such as attending an indoor gathering without masking or social distancing), a member of a group experiencing an outbreak, or at enrollment. Study participants included students, staff, and faculty at an urban, public university during Autumn quarter of 2020. Results We enrolled 16,476 individuals, performed 29,783 SARS-CoV-2 tests, and detected 236 infections. 75.0% of positive cases reported at least one of the following: symptoms (60.8%), exposure (34.7%), or high-risk behaviors (21.5%). Greek community affiliation was the strongest risk factor for testing positive, and molecular epidemiology results suggest that specific large gatherings were responsible for several outbreaks. Conclusion A testing program focused on individuals with symptoms and unvaccinated persons that participate in large campus gatherings may be effective as part of a comprehensive university-wide mitigation strategy to control the SARS-CoV-2 spread.