Descriptive epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Karnataka state, South India: Transmission dynamics of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic infections

  1. Narendra Kumar
  2. Shafeeq K. Shahul Hameed
  3. Giridhara R. Babu
  4. Manjunatha M. Venkataswamy
  5. Prameela Dinesh
  6. Prakash Kumar BG
  7. Daisy A. John
  8. Anita Desai
  9. Vasanthapuram Ravi

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Abstract

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  1. Version published to 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100717
  2. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2020.09.17.20196501: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Based on the contact tracing information, Cluster Network analysis was performed and presented using Microsoft Excel and Gephi network analysis software13
    Microsoft Excel
    suggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)
    Gephi
    suggested: (Gephi, RRID:SCR_004293)
    Statistical analysis: All the data were entered into the excel sheet and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 26) to determine the significance of various parameters.
    SPSS
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    There were two limitations to this study. A key factor in the transmission of COVID-19 is the high level of shedding of SARS-CoV-2 virus from the upper respiratory tract. Viral RNA shedding is higher at the time of symptom onset and declines after days or weeks17. The difficulty of distinguishing asymptomatic cases from those who are pre-symptomatic is a major stumbling block. Since longitudinal data on the occurrence of symptoms after the date of collection of specimens was not available in this study, the proportion of asymptomatic cases in this study may indeed be lower than 90%. Complete contact tracing was available for cluster network analysis only in 966/3404 (34%) COVID-19 cases until May 31 2020. In conclusion, the findings of this study have major implications for policies related to testing and treatment. Active search for symptomatic cases, subjecting them to testing and treatment will be key to containing the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Above all, public health messages should emphasize on the higher chances of acquiring SARS CoV-2 infection from a symptomatic individual as well as the potential of symptomatic cases to transmit the infection to a larger number of immediate contacts.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  3. Version published to 10.1101/2020.09.17.20196501v1 on medRxiv