Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 – Reactive Salivary Antibody Detection in South Carolina Emergency Healthcare Workers: September 2019–March 2020

Abstract

Background On 19 January 2020, the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was identified in the US, with the first cases in South Carolina (SC) confirmed on 06 March 2020. Due to initial limited testing capabilities and potential for asymptomatic transmission, it is possible that the virus was present earlier than previously thought while preexisting immunity in at-risk populations was unknown.