ERIC Number: EJ1392445
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Oct
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Evaluation of "Test to Return" after COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Massachusetts Public School District
Nelson, Sandra B.; Brenner, Isaac Ravi; Homan, Elizabeth; Lee, Sarah Bott; Bongiorno, Christine; Pollock, Nira R.; Ciaranello, Andrea
Journal of School Health, v93 n10 p877-882 Oct 2023
Background: Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, students with COVID-19 may end isolation after 5 days if symptoms are improving; some individuals may still be contagious. Rapid antigen testing identifies possibly infectious virus. We report on a test-to-return (TTR) program in a Massachusetts school district to inform policy decisions about return to school after COVID-19. Methods: During the 2021-2022 Omicron BA.1 surge, students with COVID-19 could return on day 6-10 if they met symptom criteria and had a negative rapid test; students with positive rapid tests and those who declined TTR remained isolated until day 11. TTR positivity rates were compared by grade level, vaccination status, symptom status, and day of infection. Results: 31.4% of students had a positive TTR rapid test; there were no differences by grade or vaccination status. Ever-symptomatic students were more likely to have a positive rapid test (75/174 [43.1%] vs 18/104 [17.3%]). For ever-symptomatic students, TTR positivity decreased by day of infection. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of students may still be contagious 6 days after onset of COVID-19 infection. TTR programs may increase or reduce missed school days, depending on when return is otherwise allowed (day 6 or 11). The impact of TTR programs on school-associated transmission remains unknown.
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Communicable Diseases, Screening Tests, Instructional Program Divisions, Immunization Programs
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A