key: cord-0767389-2n6417lf
authors: nan
title: Addressing COVID-19 in the young adult college population
date: 2021-10-09
journal: Ann Epidemiol
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.08.018
sha: 77d3dfc2535872ff535637dc086456e272cd3431
doc_id: 767389
cord_uid: 2n6417lf

nan

Annals of Epidemiology xxx (xxxx) xxx Purpose: Translating epidemiology into public health action in a young adult student population during the COVID-19 pandemic in the southeastern United States posed significant challenges, including health-related and economic risks, mitigation costs, and balancing pandemic impacts on physical, mental, and social well-being, while navigating cultural and political perceptions. We aimed to identify insights and outcomes from pandemic response effort s at a small, residential university (N = 2,310 students) during academic year 2020-2021. Methods: Institutional pandemic response methods were determined by an interdisciplinary committee structure and public health advisory group, including faculty epidemiologists, guiding university operations amid high community infection rates. The institution implemented robust COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g. required masks, physical distancing, diagnostic and surveillance testing, contact tracing, quarantine/isolation protocols), also incorporating harm reduction perspectives to balance overall student wellbeing (e.g. in-person learning and residence options, athletics, dining hall and fitness center services). Outcomes were assessed using on-campus disease surveillance data, tracking infection frequency, incidence, and testing percent positivity. Chi-squared tests were used to conduct bivariate analyses assessing student characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Collaboration across divisions increased understanding of differing perspectives and facilitated identification of sustainable operational strategies. This case study provides evidence of utilizing a harm reduction approach for a residential college while fulfilling the university's core mission to provide in-person, engaged learning experiences.

Addressing COVID-19 in the young adult college population utilizing epidemiologic expertise