Cross-sectional analysis of students and school workers reveals a high number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections during school reopening in Brazilian cities. Issue 11 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borges, Lysandro P.; Guimarães, Adriana G.; Fonseca, Dennyson Leandro M.; Freire, Paula P.; Barreto, Íkaro D.C.; Souza, Daniela R.V.; Gurgel, Ricardo Q.; Lopes, Aline S.A.; Melquiades de Rezende Neto, José; dos Santos, Kezia A.; Matos, Igor L.S.; da Invenção, Grazielly B.; Oliveira, Brenda M.; Santos, Aryanne A.; Soares, Daniele Almeida; de Jesus, Pamela C.; dos Santos, Cliomar A.; Goes, Marco A.O.; Plaça, Desirée Rodrigues; Filgueiras, Igor Salerno; Marques, Alexandre H.C.; Baiocchi, Gabriela Crispim; Cabral-Miranda, William; Cabral de Miranda, Gustavo; Saraiva Camara, Niels Olsen; Garcia Calich, Vera Lúcia; Ramos, Rodrigo Nalio; Nakaya, Helder I.; Rocha, Vanderson; Giil, Lasse M.; Ochs, Hans D.; Schimke, Lena F.; de Souza, Mércia S.F.; Cuevas, Luis E.; Martins, Aline F.; Cabral-Marques, Otavio;
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 8:Issue 11(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection -- Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies -- Seroprevalence -- School reopening; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: Brazil experienced one of the most prolonged periods of school closures, and reopening could have exposed students to high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the infection status of students and school workers at the time of the reopening of schools located in Brazilian cities is unknown. Here we evaluated viral carriage by RT-PCR and seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgM and IgG) by immunochromatography in 2259 individuals (1139 students and 1120 school workers) from 28 schools in 28 Brazilian cities. We collected the samples within 30 days after public schools reopened and before the start of vaccination campaigns. Most students (n = 421) and school workers (n = 446) had active (qRT-PCR + IgM− IgG− or qRT-PCR + IgM + IgG−/+) SARS-CoV-2 infection. Regression analysis indicated a strong association between the infection status of students and school workers. Furthermore, while 45% (n = 515) of the students and 37% (n = 415) of the school workers were neither antigen nor antibody positive in laboratory tests, 16% of the participants (169 students and 193 school workers) were oligosymptomatic, including those reinfected. These individuals presented mild symptoms such as headache, sore throat, and cough. Notably, most of the individuals were asymptomatic (83.9%). These results indicate that many SARS-CoV-2 infections in Brazilian cities during school reopening were asymptomatic. Thus, our study highlights the need to promote a coordinated public health effort to guarantee a safe educational environment while avoiding exacerbating pre-existent social inequalities in Brazil, reducing social, mental, and economic losses for students, school workers, and their families. Abstract : Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection; Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; Seroprevalence; School reopening.