SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Masked and Unmasked Close Contacts of University Students with COVID-19 — St. Louis, Missouri, January–May 2021

• Published in: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report Vol. 70; no. 36; pp. 1245 - 1248
• Main Authors: Rebmann, Terri, Loux, Travis M, Arnold, Lauren D, Charney, Rachel, Horton, Deborah, Gomel, Ashley
• Format: Journal Article Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta U.S. Government Printing Office 10.09.2021; U.S. Center for Disease Control; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: College campuses; College students; Colleges & universities; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Exposure; Full Report; Health aspects; Immunization; Pharmaceutical industry; Public health; Quarantine; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Students; Vaccination; United States; Missouri
• ISSN: 0149-2195; 1545-861X
• DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7036a3

What is already known about this topic? During January–May 2021, Saint Louis University implemented a modified quarantine protocol that considered mask use when determining which close contacts required quarantine among an almost entirely unvaccinated student population. What is added by the report? Compared with only masked exposure, close contacts with any unmasked exposure had higher adjusted odds of a positive test result. Each additional exposure was associated with a 40% increase in odds of a positive test. What are the implications for public health practice? Universal masking and fewer encounters in close proximity to persons with COVID-19 can limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in university settings.