COVID-19 among University of Otago students living in North Dunedin households in the first half of 2022: was the prevalence underestimated?

ABSTRACT

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 among occupants of North Dunedin student flats between Flat Orientation Week (Flo-Week, week starting 14 February 2022) and the end of Semester 1 (week starting 30 May 2022);to investigate the potential under-reporting of cases to the University of Otago and under-recording of positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results in My Covid Record;to explore the COVID-related experiences of students during the above period. methods: Randomly selected households in the North Dunedin area were visited at the end of Semester 1 and oral consent was sought for a short interview comprising closed- and open-ended questions. Households were eligible for inclusion if at least one resident was a University of Otago student. Result(s) One hundred and thirty-five (96.4%) of 140 eligible households participated, and in 94.1% of these households at least one resident tested positive for COVID-19 between the start of Flo-Week and the date of the interview (a mean period of 109 days [standard deviation 3.6]). In total, 73.6% of the occupants in the participating households tested positive. Of the cases who were University of Otago students, 60.4% reported their positive status to the University. Of all cases diagnosed via a RAT, 66.9% uploaded their result to My Covid Record. Students reported various academic, financial and mental health stresses associated with the general COVID-19 situation during the study period. Conclusion(s) These findings suggest that the number of COVID-19 cases reported to the University of Otago between Flo-Week and the end of Semester 1 was a substantial underestimate of the true number, as was the number of cases recorded in My Covid Record. The findings also highlight the considerable impact that COVID-19 had on students during Semester 1.Copyright © 2023 New Zealand Medical Association. All rights reserved.