Monitoring Waterloo Region Hotspots: University of Waterloo Campus [C19-UWC, study data contributed to the CITF Databank]

<b>Background:</b> At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian universities, including the University of Waterloo, shifted primarily to online learning to minimize in-person gatherings. Despite these measures, some students remained at risk due to in-person classes, living arrangements near campus, and travel related to co-op programs. <br>
<b> Aims of CITF funded study:</b> The study aims to identify groups on the university campus who are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors that contribute to increased exposure. Data collected from this study was shared with regional health authorities and other universities to help understand COVID-19 spread in educational institutions. <br>
<b> Methods:</b> This cohort study enrolled students, faculty and staff from the University of Waterloo and other local institutions. Blood samples were collected at three and six-month intervals to track participants’ exposure risk and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection over time. <br>
<b> Contributed dataset contents: </b> The datasets include 153 participants who completed their baseline survey between June 2021 and October 2022. All participants gave one or more blood samples to track exposure risk and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection between June 2021 and October 2022. A total of 344 samples were collected. Variables include data in the following areas of information: demographics (age, sex, ethnicity and indigeneity, province, occupation), general health (weight and height, smoke, other diseases, flu vaccine), exposure risk factors (household, travel history, gathering), longitudinal follow-up for COVID infections (COVID test, symptoms, hospitalization), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and serology (IgA, IgG, and IgM against SARS-CoV-2 RBD and spike proteins).