tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Euro Surveill
. 2024 Oct;29(43):2400143.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.43.2400143. Contact behaviour before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: evidence from contact surveys, 2016 to 2017 and 2020 to 2023
Jantien A Backer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eric R A Vos[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gerco den Hartog[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cheyenne C E van Hagen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hester E de Melker[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fiona R M van der Klis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jacco Wallinga[SUP] 2 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
BackgroundThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was largely mitigated by limiting contacts in the general population. In early 2022, most contact-reducing measures were lifted.AimTo assess whether the population has reverted to pre-pandemic contact behaviour and how this would affect transmission potential of a newly emerging pathogen.MethodsWe compared two studies on contact behaviour in the Netherlands: the PIENTER Corona study, conducted during and after the pandemic (held every 2-6 months from April 2020) and the PIENTER3 study (2016-17, as pre-pandemic baseline). In both, participants (ages 1-85 years) reported number and age group of all face-to-face persons contacted on the previous day in a survey. Transmission potential was examined using the next-generation matrix approach.ResultsWe found an average of 15.4 (95% CI: 14.3-16.4) community contacts per person per day after the pandemic in May 2023, 13% lower than baseline (17.8; 95% CI: 17.0-18.5). Among all ages, children (5-9 years) had the highest number of contacts, both pre- and post-pandemic. Mainly adults aged 20-59 years had not reverted to pre-pandemic behaviours, possibly because they more often work from home. Although the number of contacts is lower compared to the pre-pandemic period, the effect on transmission potential of a newly emerging respiratory pathogen is limited if all age groups were equally susceptible.ConclusionContinuous monitoring of contacts can signal changes in contact patterns and can define a 'new normal' baseline. Both aspects are needed to prepare for a future pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; contact behaviour; contact survey; education level; medical risk status; transmission potential.
. 2024 Oct;29(43):2400143.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.43.2400143. Contact behaviour before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: evidence from contact surveys, 2016 to 2017 and 2020 to 2023
Jantien A Backer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eric R A Vos[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gerco den Hartog[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cheyenne C E van Hagen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hester E de Melker[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fiona R M van der Klis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jacco Wallinga[SUP] 2 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39450517
- PMCID: PMC11513762
- DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.43.2400143
BackgroundThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was largely mitigated by limiting contacts in the general population. In early 2022, most contact-reducing measures were lifted.AimTo assess whether the population has reverted to pre-pandemic contact behaviour and how this would affect transmission potential of a newly emerging pathogen.MethodsWe compared two studies on contact behaviour in the Netherlands: the PIENTER Corona study, conducted during and after the pandemic (held every 2-6 months from April 2020) and the PIENTER3 study (2016-17, as pre-pandemic baseline). In both, participants (ages 1-85 years) reported number and age group of all face-to-face persons contacted on the previous day in a survey. Transmission potential was examined using the next-generation matrix approach.ResultsWe found an average of 15.4 (95% CI: 14.3-16.4) community contacts per person per day after the pandemic in May 2023, 13% lower than baseline (17.8; 95% CI: 17.0-18.5). Among all ages, children (5-9 years) had the highest number of contacts, both pre- and post-pandemic. Mainly adults aged 20-59 years had not reverted to pre-pandemic behaviours, possibly because they more often work from home. Although the number of contacts is lower compared to the pre-pandemic period, the effect on transmission potential of a newly emerging respiratory pathogen is limited if all age groups were equally susceptible.ConclusionContinuous monitoring of contacts can signal changes in contact patterns and can define a 'new normal' baseline. Both aspects are needed to prepare for a future pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; contact behaviour; contact survey; education level; medical risk status; transmission potential.