SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is at Herd Immunity in the Majority Segment of the Population of Qatar

Mohamed H Al-Thani, Elmoubasher Farag, Roberto Bertollini, Hamad Eid Al Romaihi, Sami Abdeen, Ashraf Abdelkarim, Faisal Daraan, Ahmed Ismail, Nahid Mostafa, Mohamed Sahl, Jinan Suliman, Elias Tayar, Hasan Ali Kasem, Meynard J A Agsalog, Bassam K Akkarathodiyil, Ayat A Alkhalaf, Mohamed Morhaf M H Alakshar, Abdulsalam Ali A H Al-Qahtani, Monther H A Al-Shedifat, Anas AnsariAhmad Ali Ataalla, Sandeep Chougule, Abhilash K K V Gopinathan, Feroz J Poolakundan, Sanjay U Ranbhise, Saed M A Saefan, Mohamed M Thaivalappil, Abubacker S Thoyalil, Inayath M Umar, Zaina Al Kanaani, Abdullatif Al Khal, Einas Al Kuwari, Adeel A Butt, Peter Coyle, Andrew Jeremijenko, Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal, Ali Nizar Latif, Riyazuddin Mohammad Shaik, Hanan F Abdul Rahim, Hadi M Yassine, Gheyath K Nasrallah, Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari, Odette Chaghoury, Hiam Chemaitelly, Laith J Abu-Raddad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)
57 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background:
Qatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess ever and/or current infection prevalence in this population. 
Methods:
A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and current infection positivity through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses. 
Results:
Study included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, occupation, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was 60.6% (95% CI: 58.6-62.5%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%). 
Conclusions:
Six in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or mild infections.
Original languageEnglish
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume8
Issue number8
Early online date02 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • Oncology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is at Herd Immunity in the Majority Segment of the Population of Qatar'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this