A novel zoonotic coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) mid-December 2019 and was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus rapidly spread to the rest of the world, including Europe and explicitly affects the respiratory system, generating Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study is a monocentric interventional prospective cohort study. After signing a written informed consent, participants will be recruited for questionnaire completion and blood sampling. Sample storage and analysis will be performed at the laboratory of microbiology of the UZ Brussel. * To document SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among employees of the UZ Brussel at day 0 (i.e. at beginning of the study, planned early May 2020), month 2 and month 5. * To document number of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversions among employees of the UZ Brussel over a period of 5 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
3,500
Antibody testing for Sars-COV-2 antibodies in blood.
UZ Brussel
Jette, Brussels Capital, Belgium
RECRUITINGSeroprevalence
\- To document SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among employees of the UZ Brussel at day 0 (i.e. at beginning of the study, planned early May 2020), month 2 and month 5.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
seroconversions
\- To document number of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversions among employees of the UZ Brussel over a period of 5 months.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Incidence of definite cases
\- To document the incidence of new definite cases of COVID-19 (based on self-reported positive PCR testing on nasopharyngeal swab) among employees of the UZ Brussel over a period of five months.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Incidence of probable cases
\- To document the incidence of new probable cases of COVID-19 (based on study questionnaire) among employees of the UZ Brussel over a period of five months.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Antibody kinetics
\- To document the SARS-CoV-2 antibody kinetics after confirmed and probable COVID-19. Specifically (1) electrostatic interactions, (2) dispersion forces, (3) hydrogen bonds, and (4) hydrophobic interactions.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Potential work-related risk factors
\- To investigate potential work-related risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among employees of the UZ Brussel.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Proportion of asymptomatic seroconversions
\- To quantify the proportion of asymptomatic seroconversions among employees of the UZ Brussel over a period of five months.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
Concerns for safety for infection with COVID-19
\- To document the concerns of HCW and non-HCW about their safety for infection with COVID-19.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 2 months and 5 months timepoint
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