Serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 incidence conducted at a rural West Virginia hospital

ABSTRACTThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected all types of global communities. Differences in urban and rural environments have led to varying levels of transmission within these subsets of the population. To fully understand the prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 it is critical to survey both types of community. This study establishes the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a rural community: Montgomery, West Virginia. Approximately 10% of participants exhibited serological or PCR-based results indicating exposure to SARS-CoV-2 within 6 months of the sampling date. Quantitative analysis of IgG levels against SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) was used to stratify individuals based on antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. A significant negative correlation between date of exposure and degree of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG (R2 = 0.9006) was discovered in addition to a correlation between neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (R2 = 0.8880) and days post exposure. Participants were confirmed to have normal immunogenic profiles by determining serum reactivity B. pertussis antigens commonly used in standardized vaccines. No significant associations were determined between anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG and age or biological sex. Reporting of viral-like illness symptoms was similar in SARS-CoV-2 exposed participants greater than 30 years old (100% reporting symptoms 30-60 years old, 75% reporting symptoms >60 years old) in contrast to participants under 30 years old (25% reporting symptoms). Overall, this axnalysis of a rural population provides important information about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in small rural communities. The study also underscores the fact that prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in antibody responses that wane over time which highlights the need for vaccine mediated protection in the absence of lasting protection.

Best Practices of Principals to Increase Attendance in Low-Socioeconomic Status Rural High Schools

Securing attendance is challenging at rural high schools with a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic states (low-SES) households. Best practices of principals to achieve high annual attendance rates (> 90%) were studied. Interviews were held with principals from 8 of 12 high schools across rural West Virginia that met the eligibility criterion of 100% enrollment of low-SES students. Six best practices emerged. Rural schools striving to increase attendance could reduce student absenteeism by implementing best practices suggested.

The Coronavirus Pandemic: Experience From a Rural West Virginia Tertiary Care Hospital

The coronavirus epidemic has taken the world by storm and has overwhelmed health systems in a number of first world countries. As a consequence, individual communities in the United States and the world have had to develop response plans to meet this extreme challenge. In these circumstances and in an effort to best prepare for the community’s needs, it becomes necessary to critically analyze the specific and unique aspects of individual regions, their population characteristics and demographics, and the geography of the area. Once assessed, these data may be applied to formulating best practices for a given community and resource pool. The following manuscript describes how this challenge was met in a large tertiary care teaching hospital located in rural West Virginia.