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. 2021 Oct;45(5):512-516.
doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13135. Epub 2021 Jun 28.

Risk factors leading to COVID-19 cases in a Sydney restaurant

Adam Capon  1   2 , Jody Houston  1 , Rebecca Rockett  3   4 , Vicky Sheppeard  1   2 , Sandra Chaverot  1 , Alicia Arnott  3   5 , Tiana Parashko  1 , Mark Ferson  1   6
Affiliations

Risk factors leading to COVID-19 cases in a Sydney restaurant

Adam Capon et al. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the factors associated with the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to patrons of a restaurant.

Methods: A retrospective cohort design was undertaken, with spatial examination and genomic sequencing of cases. The cohort included all patrons who attended the restaurant on Saturday 25 July 2020. A case was identified as a person who tested positive to a validated specific Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid test. Associations were tested using chi-squared analysis of case versus non-case behaviours.

Results: Twenty cases were epidemiologically linked to exposure at the restaurant on 25 July 2020. All cases dined indoors. All cases able to be genomic sequenced were found to have the same unique mutational profile. Factors tested for an association to the outcome included attentiveness by staff, drink consumption, bathroom use and payment by credit card. No significant results were found.

Conclusion: Indoor dining was identified as a key factor in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and outdoor dining as a way to limit transmission. Implications for public health: This investigation provides empirical evidence to support public health policies regarding indoor dining.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dining; restaurant; transmission.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epidemiological curve of outbreak cases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Lunchtime sittings identifying case locations.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dinner sittings identifying case locations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Maximum likelihood phylogeny of the nine SARS‐CoV‐2 genomes in this outbreak. A reference sequence of the first sequenced case of SARS‐CoV‐2 lineage D.2 in NSW is also included (NSW629 EPI ISL 490038).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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