Structural factors contributing to SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in the urban slum setting.

Background: The structural environment of urban slums, including physical, demographic and socioeconomic attributes, renders inhabitants more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yet, little is known about the specific determinants that contribute to high transmission within these communities.

Methods And Findings: We performed a serosurvey of an established cohort of 2,035 urban slum residents from the city of Salvador, Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021, following the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in the country.

Ensemble forecast modeling for the design of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy trials.

To rapidly evaluate the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, prioritizing vaccine trial sites in areas with high expected disease incidence can speed endpoint accrual and shorten trial duration. Mathematical and statistical forecast models can inform the process of site selection, integrating available data sources and facilitating comparisons across locations. We recommend the use of ensemble forecast modeling - combining projections from independent modeling groups - to guide investigators identifying suitable sites for COVID-19 vaccine efficacy trials.

Risk Factors for Healthcare Personnel Infection With Endemic Coronaviruses (HKU1, OC43, NL63, 229E): Results from the Respiratory Protection Effectiveness Clinical Trial (ResPECT).

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents a large risk to healthcare personnel (HCP). Quantifying the risk of coronavirus infection associated with workplace activities is an urgent need.

Methods: We assessed the association of worker characteristics, occupational roles and behaviors, and participation in procedures with the risk of endemic coronavirus infection among HCP who participated in the Respiratory Protection Effectiveness Clinical Trial (ResPECT), a cluster randomized trial to assess personal protective equipment to prevent respiratory infections and illness conducted from 2011 to 2016.