Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada
Abstract Background A variety of public health measures have been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada to reduce contact between individuals. The objective of this study was to provide empirical contact pattern data to evaluate the impact of public health measures, the degree to which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12080-1 |
| _version_ | 1818837064000471040 |
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| author | Gabrielle Brankston Eric Merkley David N. Fisman Ashleigh R. Tuite Zvonimir Poljak Peter J. Loewen Amy L. Greer |
| author_facet | Gabrielle Brankston Eric Merkley David N. Fisman Ashleigh R. Tuite Zvonimir Poljak Peter J. Loewen Amy L. Greer |
| author_sort | Gabrielle Brankston |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A variety of public health measures have been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada to reduce contact between individuals. The objective of this study was to provide empirical contact pattern data to evaluate the impact of public health measures, the degree to which social contacts rebounded to normal levels, as well as direct public health efforts toward age- and location-specific settings. Methods Four population-based cross-sectional surveys were administered to members of a paid panel representative of Canadian adults by age, gender, official language, and region of residence during May (Survey 1), July (Survey 2), September (Survey 3), and December (Survey 4) 2020. A total of 4981 (Survey 1), 2493 (Survey 2), 2495 (Survey 3), and 2491 (Survey 4) respondents provided information about the age and setting for each direct contact made in a 24-h period. Contact matrices were constructed and contacts for those under the age of 18 years imputed. The next generation matrix approach was used to estimate the reproduction number (Rt) for each survey. Respondents with children under 18 years estimated the number of contacts their children made in school and extracurricular settings. Results Estimated Rt values were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.29–0.69) for May, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.29–0.68) for July, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.63–1.52) for September, and 0.81 (0.47–1.17) for December. The highest proportion of reported contacts occurred within the home (51.3% in May), in ‘other’ locations (49.2% in July) and at work (66.3 and 65.4% in September and December). Respondents with children reported an average of 22.7 (95% CI: 21.1–24.3) (September) and 19.0 (95% CI 17.7–20.4) (December) contacts at school per day per child in attendance. Conclusion The skewed distribution of reported contacts toward workplace settings in September and December combined with the number of reported school-related contacts suggest that these settings represent important opportunities for transmission emphasizing the need to support and ensure infection control procedures in both workplaces and schools. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:16:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-306b23dcda1c4eaeabf45c1d3459e2eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:16:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-306b23dcda1c4eaeabf45c1d3459e2eb2022-12-21T20:37:52ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-11-0121111010.1186/s12889-021-12080-1Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in CanadaGabrielle Brankston0Eric Merkley1David N. Fisman2Ashleigh R. Tuite3Zvonimir Poljak4Peter J. Loewen5Amy L. Greer6Department of Population Medicine, University of GuelphMunk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of TorontoDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of TorontoDepartment of Population Medicine, University of GuelphMunk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of TorontoDepartment of Population Medicine, University of GuelphAbstract Background A variety of public health measures have been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada to reduce contact between individuals. The objective of this study was to provide empirical contact pattern data to evaluate the impact of public health measures, the degree to which social contacts rebounded to normal levels, as well as direct public health efforts toward age- and location-specific settings. Methods Four population-based cross-sectional surveys were administered to members of a paid panel representative of Canadian adults by age, gender, official language, and region of residence during May (Survey 1), July (Survey 2), September (Survey 3), and December (Survey 4) 2020. A total of 4981 (Survey 1), 2493 (Survey 2), 2495 (Survey 3), and 2491 (Survey 4) respondents provided information about the age and setting for each direct contact made in a 24-h period. Contact matrices were constructed and contacts for those under the age of 18 years imputed. The next generation matrix approach was used to estimate the reproduction number (Rt) for each survey. Respondents with children under 18 years estimated the number of contacts their children made in school and extracurricular settings. Results Estimated Rt values were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.29–0.69) for May, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.29–0.68) for July, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.63–1.52) for September, and 0.81 (0.47–1.17) for December. The highest proportion of reported contacts occurred within the home (51.3% in May), in ‘other’ locations (49.2% in July) and at work (66.3 and 65.4% in September and December). Respondents with children reported an average of 22.7 (95% CI: 21.1–24.3) (September) and 19.0 (95% CI 17.7–20.4) (December) contacts at school per day per child in attendance. Conclusion The skewed distribution of reported contacts toward workplace settings in September and December combined with the number of reported school-related contacts suggest that these settings represent important opportunities for transmission emphasizing the need to support and ensure infection control procedures in both workplaces and schools.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12080-1COVID-19Contact patternsSurveyPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Gabrielle Brankston Eric Merkley David N. Fisman Ashleigh R. Tuite Zvonimir Poljak Peter J. Loewen Amy L. Greer Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada BMC Public Health COVID-19 Contact patterns Survey Public health |
| title | Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada |
| title_full | Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada |
| title_short | Quantifying contact patterns in response to COVID-19 public health measures in Canada |
| title_sort | quantifying contact patterns in response to covid 19 public health measures in canada |
| topic | COVID-19 Contact patterns Survey Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12080-1 |
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