Safety of reopening universities and colleges using a combined strategy during coronavirus disease 2019 in China: a cross-sectional study (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Background There is no consensus as to when and how to reopen schools during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of reopening universities and colleges using a combined strategy in China.Methods This cross-sectional study included 13,116 staffs and postgraduate students who have returned to the four campuses of the University of Science and Technology of China from 17 February (students returned from 12 May) to 2 July 2020. The returning to school was guided by a combined strategy including use of personal protective equipment, management of transportation, serological and nucleic acid tests for COVID-19, quarantine, and restrictions in and out of campus. Epidemiology history and COVID-19 related symptoms (fever, cough, and dyspnoea) were recorded in a subset of participants using an online questionnaire.Results Among 13,116 participants, 4067 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid and no positive results were identified. Of 9049 participants who chose to conduct antibody tests, 28 (0.3%) tested positive but no one was confirmed by the additional viral nucleic acid tests. Online questionnaires were collected from 5741 participants (mean 25.1 years, 35% female). High-risk exposures and COVID-19 related symptoms were reported in 8.3% and 7.4% of participants, respectively. Comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease) were rare (0.2%-1.5%). Conclusions Using a combined strategy for COVID-19 prevention and control, safely reopening of universities and colleges in low-risk regions is possible and laboratory screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection may not be necessary. Further studies need to cautiously evaluate the safety of reopening schools, if any, in the middle- and high-risk regions.