COVID‐19 OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION IN A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN KUBANG KERIAN, KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

Abstract

University campus which has workplace and residential facilities is an enclosed society that at risk of an infectious disease outbreak like COVID‐19. We report an outbreak investigation of COVID‐19 in a university campus in Kelantan, a northeastern state in Malaysia. On 12 November 2020, following a reported COVID‐19 case of a 21 years old female undergraduate student, an outbreak investigation was promptly activated by the university’s COVID‐19 response team. Contact tracing identified close contacts among the index’s close friends, course colleagues, lecturers, hostel‐floormates as well as those during social and sport activities. A total of five positive cases identified from the active case investigation, where four (80%) of them were female students from four different study programs. Among the five, was a 21‐year‐old female symptomatic close contact. Another 21‐year‐old female asymptomatic positive contact led to three more positive subsequent contacts who found to share history of participating a movie night with her. No other cases detected in the following two weeks after the last detected case. Epidemiological link suggested the index case was from a nearby COVID‐19 cluster while the movie night created a ‘mini‐cluster’. In conclusion, only a few COVID‐19 cases were traced among all contacts and risk individuals in the university campus. Comprehensive history of social, academic activities and residential or workplace mapping as well as testing and isolation among close contacts are important steps in managing COVID‐19 outbreaks in a university campus and similar workplace or other residential facilities.