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. 2021;27(10):2669-2672.
doi: 10.3201/eid2710.211196.

Multiple Transmission Chains within COVID-19 Cluster, Connecticut, USA, 20201

Stephen M Bart, Eileen Flaherty, Tara Alpert, Sherry Carlson, Lisa Fasulo, Rebecca Earnest, Elizabeth B White, Noel Dickens, Anderson F Brito, Nathan D Grubaugh, James L Hadler, Lynn E Sosa

Multiple Transmission Chains within COVID-19 Cluster, Connecticut, USA, 20201

Stephen M Bart et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021.

Abstract

In fall 2020, a coronavirus disease cluster comprising 16 cases occurred in Connecticut, USA. Epidemiologic and genomic evidence supported transmission among persons at a school and fitness center but not a workplace. The multiple transmission chains identified within this cluster highlight the necessity of a combined investigatory approach.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Connecticut; SARS-CoV-2; United States; cluster; community transmission; coronavirus disease; coronaviruses; fitness center; genomic epidemiology; respiratory infections; school; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epidemic curve for coronavirus disease cluster, Connecticut, USA, 2020. Symptomatic cases are plotted by day of symptom onset; asymptomatic cases are plotted by specimen collection day. Workplace employee W-3 had contacts in the school and fitness center. W, workplace; S, school; F, fitness center; [HH], household.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree for coronavirus disease cluster, Connecticut, USA, 2020. Wuhan/Hu-1/2019 (GISAID accession no. EPI_ISL_402125; https://www.gisaid.org) and Wuhan/WH01/2019 (accession no. EPI_ISL_406798) were used as reference genomes. Workplace employee W-3 (asterisk) had contacts in the school and fitness center. Colors correspond with presumed transmission chains based on epidemiologic and genomic data. W, workplace; S, school; F, fitness center; [HH], household.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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