Lessons from countries implementing find, test, trace, isolation and support policies in the rapid response of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

Chung, Sheng‐Chia; Marlow, Sushila; Tobias, Nicholas; Alogna, Alessio; Alogna, Ivano; You, San–Lin; Khunti, Kamlesh; McKee, Martin; Michie, Susan; Pillay, Deenan

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047832

Cited by 62 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 109 publications

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“…The latter phenomenon was revealed in other territories as well [13]. The desire to break this connection is precisely what caused the widespread use of self-isolation regimes in Belarus [22,24,26]. It can be assumed that the nature of the relationship between population density and morbidity is, to some extent, due to the late introduction of restrictive antiepidemic measures to protect the population from SARS-CoV-2 [39].…”

Section: Figure 4 Correlation Between Morbidity Rate and Population Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of the Republic of Belarus amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Popova

Tarasenko²,

Smolensky

et al. 2021

Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity

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Objective was to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 collective immunity status of the population of Belarus within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. The work was carried out according to the methodology for assessing SARS-CoV-2 population immunity, developed by Rospotrebnadzor Russia and the Ministry of Health of Belarus with the participation of the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute, taking into account WHO recommendations. The Bioethics Committee of Belarus and the local ethics committee of the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute approved the study. Selection of participants was carried out using a questionnaire method and online technology (internet, cloud server). Volunteers were randomized into seven age groups (years of age): 1–17; 18–29; 30–39; 40–49; 50–59; 60–69; and 70+. Regional randomization ensured proportional representation of volunteers from each region, and no more than 30 people were included from one enterprise. In accordance with manufacturer instructions, blood plasma samples were analyzed for: IgG antibodies (Abs) to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (Nc) using a quantitative ELISA test system; and IgG Abs to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S (spike) surface glycoprotein using a qualitative ELISA test system. Statistical processing was carried out using Excel 2010 and other software. Statistical differences were designated as significant when p < 0.05, unless otherwise indicated. Results. The level of seroprevalence, in terms of Abs to Nc among the Belarusian population, was 38.4% (95% CI 37.6–45.4). The highest Ab levels were found among individuals in older age groups (50-70+ years old). The lowest were found in children 1–17 years old and in young people 18–39 years old The distribution of seroprevalence across Belarusian regions was relatively homogeneous, with the exception of the Minsk Region, where a statistically significant decrease in the indicator was noted. In terms of profession, the largest share of seropositive individuals was found among transportation workers; the smallest was found in business. The moderate COVID-19 incidence has not led to a dramatic increase in the number of contacts. The base reproduction number (R0) was 1.3. In the Republic of Belarus, there was a moderate level of asymptomatic COVID-19 among seropositive individuals (45.3% [95% CI 44.0–46.7]). This form of infection was observed most often among children aged 1–17 years old (65.0% [95% CI 61.3–68.6]). In parallel with seroprevalence assessment, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was carried out. We used two vaccines: Gam-COVID-Vac (also known as Sputnik V, developed by Gamaleya National Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russia); and BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm, PRC). Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was accompanied by an increase in the level of anti-RBD Abs (95% [95% CI 94.7–96.7]). Taking into account the vaccination of a subset of the population with BBIBP-CorV, the overall herd immunity, inferred from the analyzed indicators (presence of anti-Nc or anti-RBD Abs), was 47.1% (95% CI 46.3–48.0). Conclusion. COVID-19 in Belarus was characterized by a moderately pronounced course of the epidemic process. The threshold level of herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been reached, as a result of which the conditions for progression of the epidemic remain.

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Section: Figure 4 Correlation Between Morbidity Rate and Population Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of the Republic of Belarus amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Popova

Tarasenko²,

Smolensky

et al. 2021

Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Countries or cities with a high population density and aged population including Hong Kong is at risk of severe outbreak of emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 [ 20 ]. As the disease is spreading rapidly in multiple continents, many countries implemented border restrictions towards regions with severe outbreak in order to reduce local case number and mortality [ 20 – 22 ]. This is particularly important for developing countries with inadequate medical resources to tackle massive local outbreak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong in early 2020

Kwok

Wong

et al. 2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to pandemic that affected almost all countries in the world. Many countries have implemented border restriction as a public health measure to limit local outbreak. However, there is inadequate scientific data to support such a practice, especially in the presence of an established local transmission of the disease. Objective To apply a metapopulation Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model with inspected migration to investigate the effect of border restriction as a public health measure to limit outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019. Methods We apply a modified metapopulation SEIR model with inspected migration with simulating population migration, and incorporating parameters such as efficiency of custom inspection in blocking infected travelers in the model. The population sizes were retrieved from government reports, while the number of COVID-19 patients were retrieved from Hong Kong Department of Health and China Centre for Disease Control (CDC) data. The R0 was obtained from previous clinical studies. Results Complete border closure can help to reduce the cumulative COVID-19 case number and mortality in Hong Kong by 13.99% and 13.98% respectively. To prevent full occupancy of isolation facilities in Hong Kong; effective public health measures to reduce local R0 to below 1.6 was necessary, apart from having complete border closure. Conclusions Early complete travel restriction is effective in reducing cumulative cases and mortality. However, additional anti-COVID-19 measures to reduce local R0 to below 1.6 are necessary to prevent COVID-19 cases from overwhelming hospital isolation facilities.

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“…Previous observational studies on testing and screening uptakeincluding for COVID-19 -have reported associations between the number of test sites or test site vicinity, and test uptake. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Much of this evidence is from low-resource settings or underserved population in high-income settings. One experimental study on screening for HIV reported observing an effect for test site vicinity as close as 1.5 kilometres in a low-income context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,5 One reason people self-report for not getting tested is a lack of accessibility to (free) testing sites. [6][7][8][9] Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have considered proximity of testing sites in various health contexts, such as for HIV, STI, cognitive impairment, TB and cancer screenings. Mostly, studies rely on surveying self-reported barriers or use geographical mapping to examine test-uptake by looking at the distance between test site and people's home address.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of proximity of COVID-19 test facilities on test uptake: Two quasi-experimental trials

RIVM¹

2022

Preprint

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Background: Test, Trace and Isolate (TTI) is a key strategy in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic response. There is limited experimental evidence on how to improve uptake of COVID-19 testing. In this study we manipulate test site proximity to evaluate its impact on test uptake.Methods: We conducted two quasi-experimental studies (from February 8th to March 21st, 2021) during a community-wide testing initiative in The Netherlands. In Study 1 we placed a test site in one village (reducing distance to test site from 8.4km to 800m) but not in a matched control village (distance to test site 9.9km). In Study 2 a mobile test bus alternated between two areas codes, changing distance to the test site from 3.5km to 200m and from 1.6km to 850m. The trial is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (number NL9365).Findings: In Study 1 (n=11,317 eligible inhabitants), a logistic regression controlling for baseline differences (8.6% control vs 10% intervention) found a significant effect of reducing test site proximity (17.5% control vs 29% intervention) [Odds Ratio =1.84 {95% CI 1.68-2.02}]; p < 0.0001]. In Study 2 (n=1,880 eligible inhabitations), a Poisson regression revealed higher test uptake when the mobile test bus was present (33.6% when absent vs 42.6% when present, Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.35, [95% CI 1.14-1.59]; p < 0.0001).Interpretation: Reducing the distance to COVID-19 test facilities increased test uptake, at least when the distance was reduced from an average of 3.5km to 200 metres. Localising test facilities can substantially increase testing for COVID-19, and thus the effectiveness of TTI in general. Funding: The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) of the Netherlands.

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Lessons from countries implementing find, test, trace, isolation and support policies in the rapid response of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

Cited by 62 publications

References 109 publications

Herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of the Republic of Belarus amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of the Republic of Belarus amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Modelling the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong in early 2020

The effect of proximity of COVID-19 test facilities on test uptake: Two quasi-experimental trials

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