Social activity during freshers' week likely contributed to a large Covid-19 outbreak among students living at student accommodation, a study has found.
A study published on Tuesday by Public Health Scotland with the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde showed there were 11 independent introductions of the Covid-19 virus into the student population which caused at least four large outbreaks.
Researchers found that covid-19 spread “rapidly” via social interactions during freshers’ week among the student population in Glasgow during the autumn of 2020.
They looked at 1,039 student cases of Covid-19 identified between September and November 2020 and found 50% were associated with student halls.
Genome sequencing, which is working out the order of the genes in an organism’s DNA, combined with epidemiological information was used to provide a deep insight into the outbreak.
Data in the study found the virus was transmitted from within Scotland in two out of four outbreaks and infection spready rapidly via social activity and gatherings during freshers’ week.
In 2020, around 600 students at the University of Glasgow were self-isolating after reports of large parties at the Murano Street residences in Maryhill.
With 2022 Freshers just two months away, the researchers warn that the university settings present a risk for contributing to the winter burden of Covid-19.
Chris Illingworth, co-senior author and Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow said: “This study is a reminder that COVID-19 can spread extremely rapidly: Within a short time of the virus getting into the University more than 1,000 students were infected."
This comes as the current dominant strains of the Omicron Covid-19 variant have had a notable transmission rate with one in 16 Scots reportedly infected last week according to Office for National Statistics data
As well as that there are some concerns around a new sub-variant which has arrived in the UK, nicknamed 'Centaurus'. It has been spreading rapidly through India, and could be more fast-spreading than the current dominant strains.
The outbreak that was looked at in the study was quickly controlled, says the researchers. They say it was because of the swift action from public health officials as well as the effected students
Dr Alison Smith-Palmer, Senior author of the study and Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Scotland said: "Despite the scale at which this particular outbreak grew, it came to a rapid end following the swift action of the University and the local Public Health Protection Team at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, along with an apparent high compliance from the students affected.
"These actions prevented any further rise in case numbers and also limited any impact on the surrounding community.”
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