Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission at a large public university
Authors: Ranoa Diana Rose E. , Holland Robin L. , Alnaji Fadi G. , Green Kelsie J. , Wang Leyi , Fredrickson Richard L. , Wang Tong , Wong George N. , Uelmen Johnny , Maslov Sergei , Weiner Zachary J. , Tkachenko Alexei V. , Zhang Hantao , Liu Zhiru , Ibrahim Ahmed , Patel Sanjay J. , Paul John M. , Vance Nickolas P. , Gulick Joseph G. , Satheesan Sandeep Puthanveetil , Galvan Isaac J. , Miller Andrew , Grohens Joseph , Nelson Todd J. , Stevens Mary P. , Hennessy P Mark , Parker Robert C. , Santos Edward , Brackett Charles , Steinman Julie D. , Fenner Melvin R. , Dohrer Kirstin , DeLorenzo Michael , Wilhelm-Barr Laura , Brauer Brian R. , Best-Popescu Catherine , Durack Gary , Wetter Nathan , Kranz David M. , Breitbarth Jessica , Simpson Charlie , Pryde Julie A. , Kaler Robin N. , Harris Chris , Vance Allison C. , Silotto Jodi L. , Johnson Mark , Valera Enrique Andres , Anton Patricia K. , Mwilambwe Lowa , Bryan Stephen P. , Stone Deborah S. , Young Danita B. , Ward Wanda E. , Lantz John , Vozenilek John A. , Bashir Rashid , Moore Jeffrey S. , Garg Mayank , Cooper Julian C. , Snyder Gillian , Lore Michelle H. , Yocum Dustin L. , Cohen Neal J. , Novakofski Jan E. , Loots Melanie J. , Ballard Randy L. , Band Mark , Banks Kayla M. , Barnes Joseph D. , Bentea Iuliana , Black Jessica , Busch Jeremy , Conte Abigail , Conte Madison , Curry Michael , Eardley Jennifer , Edwards April , Eggett Therese , Fleurimont Judes , Foster Delaney , Fouke Bruce W. , Gallagher Nicholas , Gastala Nicole , Genung Scott A. , Glueck Declan , Gray Brittani , Greta Andrew , Healy Robert M. , Hetrick Ashley , Holterman Arianna A. , Ismail Nahed , Jasenof Ian , Kelly Patrick , Kielbasa Aaron , Kiesel Teresa , Kindle Lorenzo M. , Lipking Rhonda L. , Manabe Yukari C. , Mayes Jade ́ , McGuffin Reubin , McHenry Kenton G. , Mirza Agha , Moseley Jada , Mostafa Heba H. , Mumford Melody , Munoz Kathleen , Murray Arika D. , Nolan Moira , Parikh Nil A. , Pekosz Andrew , Pflugmacher Janna , Phillips Janise M. , Pitts Collin , Potter Mark C. , Quisenberry James , Rear Janelle , Robinson Matthew L. , Rosillo Edith , Rye Leslie N. , Sherwood MaryEllen , Simon Anna , Singson Jamie M. , Skadden Carly , Skelton Tina H. , Smith Charlie , Stech Mary , Thomas Ryan , Tomaszewski Matthew A. , Tyburski Erika A. , Vanwingerden Scott , Vlach Evette , Watkins Ronald S. , Watson Karriem , White Karen C. , Killeen Timothy L. , Jones Robert J. , Cangellaris Andreas C. , Martinis Susan A. , Vaid Awais , Brooke Christopher B. , Walsh Joseph T. , Elbanna Ahmed , Sullivan William C. , Smith Rebecca L. , Goldenfeld Nigel , Fan Timothy M. , Hergenrother Paul J. , Burke Martin D. 
Published: June 2022

In Fall 2020, universities saw extensive transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among their populations, threatening health of the university and surrounding communities, and viability of in-person instruction. Here we report a case study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where a multimodal “SHIELD: Target, Test, and Tell” program, with other non-pharmaceutical interventions, was employed to keep classrooms and laboratories open. The program included epidemiological modeling and surveillance, fast/frequent testing using a novel low-cost and scalable saliva-based RT-qPCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 that bypasses RNA extraction, called covidSHIELD, and digital tools for communication and compliance. In Fall 2020, we performed >1,000,000 covidSHIELD tests, positivity rates remained low, we had zero COVID-19-related hospitalizations or deaths amongst our university community, and mortality in the surrounding Champaign County was reduced more than 4-fold relative to expected. This case study shows that fast/frequent testing and other interventions mitigated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at a large public university.