Analysis of the importance of asymptomatic individuals in the maintenance and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the University of São Paulo City Campus, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging zoonosis identified in China in early 2020 responsible for causing atypical pneumonia. In just three months the virus reached all continents, being detected in individuals present in more than 168 countries/regions. Currently in the world (March 24, 2020) approximately 381,000 people were infected with 16563 reported deaths related to viral infection. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the national territory was reported by the Ministry of Health on February 26, 2020 in the city of São Paulo, being a case imported from Italy, country with the second highest number of cases in the world (64 thousand). Different introductions from Italy were registered in Brazil and in just one month the number of cases reached 1900 cases and 34 deaths, the vast majority reported in the capital of São Paulo. The first case recorded on the University of São Paulo Campus occurred on March 11. Epidemiologists believe that the student was infected by his wife who had recently arrived from Italy. The presence of asymptomatic infections and their importance in the maintenance and dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 is still unknown. However, different reports reinforce and indicate the importance of individuals with mild, limited or asymptomatic symptoms in the transmission and dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 in different populations, it being estimated that 86% of all infections were not documented. In the present project, we propose the analysis of the presence of asymptomatic infections on the University City Campus, more specifically, in student housing consisting of an apartment with 2 to 3 bedrooms, an ideal condition for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We plan to collect respiratory and blood samples from 500 asymptomatic individuals living at CRUSP or present at the active Trays of the University of Cidade Universitária. Molecular diagnostic assays and analysis of the presence of IgG and IgM will be performed in order to identify the presence of asymptomatic infections or seroconversion of individuals indicating an asymptomatic or mild infection prior to the study period. Results will also serve to guide the need for isolation and quarantine of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.