Outbreak Investigation - NCS COVID-19 Transmssion and Environment

We are exploring the existing data landscapes and opportunities for data linkages to support statistical analysis and modelling, in order to understand and monitor SARS-CoV-2 transmission and rates of COVID-19 outbreaks in occupational settings in Great Britain

For investigation of where transmission occurs

Key research questions

1. Where, in which settings, SARS-CoV-2 transmission is occurring?
2. How can we measure the relative risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by setting type and location, so that we can target areas where risk of transmission and risk of outbreak are high?
3. How can we measure and monitor the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 and its new variants in different settings?
4. How can we identify the type of settings and their characteristics (occupants, behaviours, environment and controls) that can be associated with an increased or decreased risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission?
5. How can we develop a model to predict the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in certain settings and locations; and how can we validate and improve the predictive ability of the model?

Secondary research questions

1. What is the role of using population denominator (National Population Database) to provide background information on the community, social, services, travel and work-related interactions and contact networks in different settings and geographical locations to enable comparative analysis on the relative risk for transmission by setting, location and time?
2. How can we measure risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in association with the level of contacts and contact patterns and their relative importance in designing population observational studies?
3. How can we measure the impact of early identification and controlling of COVID-19 outbreaks in different settings on controlling the spread of the disease in the community and on overall pandemic mitigation?

For Investigation of how transmission occurs

Key research questions

1. What are the potential transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 and their relative importance in an outbreak in occupational settings?
2. What are the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in an outbreak in occupational settings?
3. Are there risk factors in relation to workers, workers’ behaviours, the environment and controls, that could enhance the virus transmission and their relative importance in an outbreak setting?
4. Is there evidence of SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination (on surfaces and in the air) in an outbreak in occupational settings?
5. What is the extent of the contamination and its links to transmission within an outbreak in occupational settings?
6. Is there evidence for the efficacy of infection prevention and control mitigations (singly or in bundles) in preventing COVID-19 transmission or outbreaks in occupational settings?

Secondary research questions

1. How can we measure the efficacy and the relative contribution of a range of mitigations in preventing COVID-19 outbreak in occupational settings?
2. What is the role of vaccination of workers on risk of transmission in occupational settings?
3. What are the extent and proportion of asymptomatic infections among workers in occupational outbreak settings?
4. What are the roles of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission in occupational outbreak settings?
5. What proportion of workers who are working in the high SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk occupations and sectors have been vaccinated?
6. What is the antibody level among workers working in the high SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk occupations and sectors that remain open during pandemic?
7. Are there any reinfections among the study participants? What is the association between antibody level, vaccination and reinfection?