Characteristics of COVID-19 Contacts and Conversion Rates to Positive Cases

Abstract

Objective: In the fight against COVID-19, each country has determined different strategies to combat the epidemic, considering factors such as facilities, health infrastructure systems, and social characteristics. Within the scope of the epidemic management strategy implemented in our country, quarantine was initiated after the field teams reached the COVID-19 cases and their contacts and made the necessary evaluations. Our study aimed to compare the effects of age, gender, contact environment, symptoms, and degree of closeness variables on the transformation into positive COVID-19 cases.

Methods: During the 9-month study period between March 20 and December 20, 2020, people who were in contact with COVID-19 cases and whose contact follow-up was initiated by field teams in Gaziemir District of İzmir province were examined. Those who became positive while in isolation were determined among these quarantine contacts. Permission was obtained from the Scientific Research Platform of the Ministry of Health. The ethics committee approval was then obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the University of Health Sciences (HSU) Tepecik Education and Research Hospital with the decision number 2021/01-08, dated 25.01.2021.

Results: A total of 14,668 contacts were included in the study. Of these, 2,841 (19.4%) became positive cases during follow-up. Among the contact individuals, 1,544 (20.2%) women and 1,297 (18.5%) men turned into positive cases. Separately for each symptom, contact symptoms significantly affect the conversion to being positive. Individuals who had contact with a positive case in compulsory common areas such as workplaces, schools, barracks, dormitories, prisons, and nursing homes turned into positive cases at a rate of 2.63 times more than individuals who came into contact with them in other settings. Age has a significant effect on the incidence of contacts. It was determined that as the age of the contacts increased, they turned into positive cases at higher rates.

Conclusion: We have concluded that the age, gender, contact environment, and proximity to the 60 COVID-19 positive cases affect these individuals in becoming positive cases. Therefore, identifying these features will help us understand the transmission characteristics and spread dynamics of the COVID-19 disease.