Epidemiological evaluation of mass testing in a small municipality in the Netherlands during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heijmink, Lisanne; Tönis, Juul; Gilhuis, Niek; Gerkema, Maartje; Hart, Lotte; Raven, Stijn; van den Boogaard, Jossy; Hofhuis, Agnetha; van den Hof, Susan; Visser, Olga
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 150(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- COVID-19 testing -- mass screening -- Netherlands -- SARS-CoV-2; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268822001777
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: During 6 weeks in February–March 2021, the Dutch municipal health service Utrecht studied the epidemiological effects on test incidence and the detection of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with mass testing (MT). During MT, inhabitants of Bunschoten could repeatedly test regardless of symptoms and as often as desired at the close-by test facilities in the municipality. Data from the regular COVID-19 registration was used for analysis. In Bunschoten, MT caused a significant increase in test incidence and an immediate increase in the number of detected active infections, in contrast to a stabilisation in the rest of the province of Utrecht. Age distribution of test incidence shifted to the older population in Bunschoten during MT. During MT, there was a 6.8 percentage point increase in detected asymptomatic cases, a 0.4 percentage point increase in pre-symptomatic cases and a decrease of 0.5 days between onset of symptoms and test date. This study has shown that MT increases test incidence and helps to obtain a more complete view of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in a community, which can be useful in specific situations with a defined target group or goal. However, the question remains open whether the use of MT is proportionate to the overall gain.