TY - JOUR
T1 - A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak associated with five air force bases and a nightclub following the lifting of COVID-19-related social restrictions, United Kingdom, July-to-September 2021
AU - Taylor, Michael James
AU - Kumbang, Jharna
AU - Bamford, Kate
AU - Mohammed Jazuli Ismail, Hanouf
AU - Huntley, Phil
AU - Liddle, Natalie
AU - Errington, Jim
AU - Mair-Jenkins, John
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2023/2/3
Y1 - 2023/2/3
N2 - We describe the management of two linked severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks, predominantly amongst 18-35-year-olds, in a UK county in July-to-September 2021, following the lifting of national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated social restrictions. One was associated with a nightclub and one with five air force bases. On week beginning 2nd August 2021, air force contact tracing teams detected 68 cases across five bases within one county; 21 (30.9%) were associated with a night-time economy venue, 13 (19.1%) with night-time economy venues in the county's main town and at least one case per base (n = 6, 8.8%) with a particular nightclub in this town, which itself had been associated with 302 cases in the previous week (coinciding with its reopening following a national lockdown). In response, Public Health England/United Kingdom Health Security Agency, air force and local authority teams collaboratively implemented communication strategies and enhanced access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination. Key challenges included attempting to encourage behaviours that reduce likelihood of transmission to a population who may have considered themselves at low risk from severe COVID-19. This report may inform future preparation for, and management of, easing of potential future pandemic-related social restrictions, and how an outbreak in this context may be addressed.
AB - We describe the management of two linked severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks, predominantly amongst 18-35-year-olds, in a UK county in July-to-September 2021, following the lifting of national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated social restrictions. One was associated with a nightclub and one with five air force bases. On week beginning 2nd August 2021, air force contact tracing teams detected 68 cases across five bases within one county; 21 (30.9%) were associated with a night-time economy venue, 13 (19.1%) with night-time economy venues in the county's main town and at least one case per base (n = 6, 8.8%) with a particular nightclub in this town, which itself had been associated with 302 cases in the previous week (coinciding with its reopening following a national lockdown). In response, Public Health England/United Kingdom Health Security Agency, air force and local authority teams collaboratively implemented communication strategies and enhanced access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination. Key challenges included attempting to encourage behaviours that reduce likelihood of transmission to a population who may have considered themselves at low risk from severe COVID-19. This report may inform future preparation for, and management of, easing of potential future pandemic-related social restrictions, and how an outbreak in this context may be addressed.
KW - COVID-19
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - outbreak management
KW - outbreaks
KW - prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148054671&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268823000134
DO - 10.1017/S0950268823000134
M3 - Article
C2 - 36734116
AN - SCOPUS:85148054671
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 151
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
M1 - e26
ER -
