SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Lombardy Region: the increase of household contagion and its implication for containment measures

SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Lombardy Region: the increase of household contagion and its implication for containment measures

Authors

  • Carlo Signorelli School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; University of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Anna Odone Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • Giuseppe Stirparo School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan – Italy
  • Danilo Cereda General Directorate for Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
  • Maria Gramegna General Directorate for Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
  • Marco Trivelli General Directorate for Welfare, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
  • Gianni Rezza General Directorate for Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, transmission, household, containment

Abstract

This study aimed at the identification of the settings linked to SARS-CoV-2 transmission through the analysis of clusters and small outbreaks detected by the Lombardy Region surveillance system during the second epidemic wave. Comparing the data before and after the introduction of restrictive measures (night curfew, partial closure of schools and businesses, smaart working), we observed a significant decrease of infections in workplaces, social gatherings, coffee shops, restaurants, and sports centers; contagion in schools decreased from 9.2% to 3.4%, in hospitals environments and nursing homes from 5% to 2%; domestic infections increased instead from 73.5% to 92.7%. These results suggest that containment measures have been effective in controlling virus circulation in the community but not at the household level and might inform future interventions, including the establishment of structures (Covid Hotels) for the isolation infected people. At the same time, they raise awareness on the risk of transmission among family members and during households social gatherings.

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Published

20-11-2020

Issue

Section

REVIEWS/FOCUS ON - SPECIAL COVID19

How to Cite

1.
Signorelli C, Odone A, Stirparo G, et al. SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Lombardy Region: the increase of household contagion and its implication for containment measures. Acta Biomed. 2020;91(4):e2020195. doi:10.23750/abm.v91i4.10994