Bergen COVID-19 Research Group

The first case of COVID-19 infection was identified in Bergen on 28th February prior to the declaration of pandemic on 11th March 2020. Rigorous testing of all suspected cases in the community was centralised in Bergen providing a unique opportunity to study the pandemic. Building on our experience from the swine influenza pandemic, our interdisciplinary consortium covering the community, hospitals and Universities aims to understand key clinical, epidemiological, and immunological characteristics of COVID-19 infection in the general population, hospitalised patients and frontline healthcare workers (HCW).

We commenced our study on 6th March collecting baseline pre-exposure and demographics data and serum samples from 1000 HCW. These HCW have been followed up upon suspected or confirmed infection or we have collected exposure history and serum samples 6-8 weeks later. Serological assays have been established in which only infected people have antibodies and allowed us to map exposure. Exposure history and clinical symptoms and blood samples have been collected from all COVID-19 positive community cases up to Easter and their household and close contacts. We will define levels of population-based immunity to SARS-CoV-2 virus in HCW (exposed and/or infected), community and hospitalized patients and the durability of immunity. We will describe the prognostic factors for severe and life-threatening illness in hospitalized patients in Bergen and investigate immunological biomarkers for severe disease. Our immunological and epidemiological findings will provide vital information on the ability of the virus to spread in the Norwegian population and in health care services to inform future policy decisions.