Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34168036›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

COVID-19 infection among international travellers: a prospective analysis.

Meaghan Lunney, Paul E Ronksley, Robert G Weaver, Lianne Barnieh, Norman Blue, Marc T Avey, Elizabeth Rolland-Harris, Faisal M Khan, Jack X Q Pang, Ellen Rafferty and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Meaghan LunneyDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4954-0529
Paul E RonksleyDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Robert G WeaverDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8403-857X
Lianne BarniehDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Norman BlueOffice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Marc T AveyPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth Rolland-HarrisPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Faisal M KhanCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jack X Q PangProvincial Population and Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Ellen RaffertyAnalytics & Performance Reporting Branch, Alberta Health, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Tayler D ScoryDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Lawrence W SvensonDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-3391-578X
Rachel RodinPublic Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Marcello TonelliDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada cello@ucalgary.ca.ORCID 0000-0002-0846-3187

Funding

CIHR FDN-143211
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis report estimates the risk of COVID-19 importation and secondary transmission associated with a modified quarantine programme in Canada. DESIGN AND

participantsProspective analysis of international asymptomatic travellers entering Alberta, Canada.

interventionsAll participants were required to receive a PCR COVID-19 test on arrival. If negative, participants could leave quarantine but were required to have a second test 6 or 7 days after arrival. If the arrival test was positive, participants were required to remain in quarantine for 14 days.

main outcome measuresProportion and rate of participants testing positive for COVID-19; number of cases of secondary transmission.

resultsThe analysis included 9535 international travellers entering Alberta by air (N=8398) or land (N=1137) that voluntarily enrolled in the Alberta Border Testing Pilot Programme (a subset of all travellers); most (83.1%) were Canadian citizens. Among the 9310 participants who received at least one test, 200 (21.5 per 1000, 95% CI 18.6 to 24.6) tested positive. Sixty-nine per cent (138/200) of positive tests were detected on arrival (14.8 per 1000 travellers, 95% CI 12.5 to 17.5). 62 cases (6.7 per 1000 travellers, 95% CI 5.1 to 8.5; 31.0% of positive cases) were identified among participants that had been released from quarantine following a negative test result on arrival. Of 192 participants who developed symptoms, 51 (26.6%) tested positive after arrival. Among participants with positive tests, four (2.0%) were hospitalised for COVID-19; none required critical care or died. Contact tracing among participants who tested positive identified 200 contacts; of 88 contacts tested, 22 were cases of secondary transmission (14 from those testing positive on arrival and 8 from those testing positive thereafter). SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage was not detected in any of the 200 positive cases.

conclusions21.5 per 1000 international travellers tested positive for COVID-19. Most (69%) tested positive on arrival and 31% tested positive during follow-up. These findings suggest the need for ongoing vigilance in travellers testing negative on arrival and highlight the value of follow-up testing and contact tracing to monitor and limit secondary transmission where possible.

Indexed as

COVID-19TravelAlbertaCOVID-19 TestingHumansInternationalityProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2COVID-19health policypublic health

Identifiers

PMID34168036
PMCPMC8228575

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.