CORONA - COVMon - Monitoring concepts for SARS-CoV-2 - epidemiology and co-infections; subproject 1

A detailed understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 is of central importance for an efficient control of the outbreak. After the phase of general shut-down, efficient monitoring strategies as well as the clarification of open questions regarding the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the causes of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients are of highest relevance. In particular, they complement the activities of the national research network and seroprevalence studies underway at numerous sites in Germany. Within the framework of an interdisciplinary project study on the epidemiological characterization of COVID-19, questions will be addressed that specifically require an interdisciplinary approach and that are not or insufficiently addressed in current, Germany-wide research projects on epidemiology and diagnostics. Against this background, COVMon will address the following questions in particular: 1. which monitoring concepts are suitable for early detection of virus spread in childcare facilities? 2. which co-infections occur in patients with severe COVID-19 infection? 3. What is the role of animals in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2? Answering these questions will make a critical contribution to our understanding of the epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany and thus provide a rational basis for decisions on containment measures.