Characterizing the Qatar advanced-phase SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The overarching objective of this study was to provide the descriptive epidemiology of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in Qatar by addressing specific research questions through a series of national epidemiologic studies. Sources of data were the centralized and standardized national databases for SARS-CoV-2 infection. By July 10, 2020, 397,577 individuals had been tested for SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR), of whom 110,986 were positive, a positivity cumulative rate of 27.9% (95% CI 27.8-28.1%). As of July 5, case severity rate, based on World Health Organization (WHO) severity classification, was 3.4% and case fatality rate was 1.4 per 1,000 persons. Age was by far the strongest predictor of severe, critical, or fatal infection. PCR positivity of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs in a national community survey (May 6-7) including 1,307 participants was 14.9% (95% CI 11.5-19.0%); 58.5% of those testing positive were asymptomatic. Across 448 ad-hoc testing campaigns in workplaces and residential areas including 26,715 individuals, pooled mean PCR positivity was 15.6% (95% CI 13.7-17.7%). SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence was 24.0% (95% CI 23.3-24.6%) in 32,970 residual clinical blood specimens. Antibody prevalence was only 47.3% (95% CI 46.2-48.5%) in those who had at least one PCR positive result, but 91.3% (95% CI 89.5-92.9%) among those who were PCR positive > 3 weeks before serology testing. Qatar has experienced a large SARS-CoV-2 epidemic that is rapidly declining, apparently due to growing immunity levels in the population.

authors

  • Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal
  • Chemaitelly, Hiam Souheil
  • Ayoub, Houssein H
  • Al Kanaani, Zaina
  • Al Khal, Abdullatif
  • Al Kuwari, Einas
  • Butt, Adeel A
  • Coyle, Peter
  • Jeremijenko, Andrew
  • Kaleeckal, Anvar Hassan
  • Latif, Ali Nizar
  • Owen, Robert C
  • Rahim, Hanan F Abdul
  • Al Abdulla, Samya A
  • Al Kuwari, Mohamed G
  • Kandy, Mujeeb C
  • Saeb, Hatoun
  • Ahmed, Shazia Nadeem N
  • Al Romaihi, Hamad Eid
  • Bansal, Devendra
  • Dalton, Louise
  • Al-Thani, Mohamed H
  • Bertollini, Roberto

publication date

  • March 18, 2021

Research

keywords

  • Asymptomatic Infections
  • COVID-19

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC7973743

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85102786615

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1371/journal.pone.0237959

PubMed ID

  • 33737535

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 11

issue

  • 1