Epidemiology and virology of new COVID-19 variants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measurement of epidemiological and virological characteristics of new SARS-CoV-2 variants: a comparison with the base variant
IRAS ID
296595
Contact name
Daniel Burns
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Measurements of the incubation period during the first wave led to informed policies of self-isolation across the world. For self-isolation policy to continue to be informed by data, the incubation period of the new variants must also be measured to ensure the policy is fit for purpose. Variant B.1.1.7 has already been identified to have higher transmissibility and higher measured viral loads than the base variant; consequently, a measure of incubation period will also further understanding behind the enhanced transmissibility and contribute to understanding of the underlying virology.
The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of incubation period, viral load relative to symptom onset, and secondary attack rate of new SARS-CoV-2 variants from three separate contact tracing studies occurring during waves 1, 2, and 3 of the COVID-19 epidemic. We also aim to perform a statistical test to evaluate whether the incubation period differs between variants.
Study design: the data, which details outbreak clusters within the catchment of Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, has already been collected as part of infection prevention and control measures. There are three separate datasets of this type corresponding to each of the 3 waves. The data for each wave will be anonymised and will contain information on the transmission chains, the times of exposure to each index case, the time of symptom onset, and the cycle threshold (CT) value of the associated RT-qPCR test that was performed to confirm the case. It will also contain whether an individual had a given variant. We will then measure each of the characteristics in each wave and perform a statistical analysis to assert whether incubation period has changed through the waves, and whether incubation period changes with the different variants.
The research is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0108
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion