Detection of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in Children and Adults and Transmission Dynamics [Funder: Hamilton Academic Health Sciences Organization]

Children and adults may be asymptomatically colonized with SARS-CoV-2. As community transmission increases it becomes increasingly important to identify, quantify and track asymptomatic colonization and to understand transmission dynamics and the risk to family members and healthcare providers. We will carry out asurveillance program and a prospective cohort study from the Emergency Department (ED) at McMaster Children's Hospital (MCH) by collecting up to 20 daily oralswabs for 100 days from asymptomatic children and their adult caregivers, which we will test for SARS-CoV-2. Household member symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 status willbe tracked. Information will be shared with policy and decision makers, which will inform policies and the risk posed by asymptomatic children to household contactsand healthcare providers. This will be a collaborative project with Hamilton Public Health Services, St Joseph's Healthcare state-of-the-art research virology laboratoryand Alberta Children's Hospital ED funded-surveillance program in Calgary, Alberta.