ERIC Number: EJ1333067
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-May
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Incidence at a North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten-12 School during In-Person Education: August 2020 to January 2021
Thakkar, Pavan V.; Zimmerman, Kanecia O.; Benjamin, Daniel K.; Kalu, Ibukunoluwa C.
Journal of School Health, v92 n5 p461-468 May 2022
Background: School closures were initially believed to mitigate SARS-CoV-2, but instead may have had a limited role in reducing community SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We describe a single school's experience with in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: From August 17, 2020 through January 23, 2021, we conducted a prospective study at a private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (PreK-12) school in North Carolina. The school employed numerous SARS-CoV-2 mitigation measures, including mandatory masking and physical distancing without mandated laboratory screening tests. We analyzed de-identified contact tracing data collected by the school. Results: Seventy-five primary cases were reported among the 2110 students, faculty, and staff during the study period. Twenty-one (28%) of the primary cases were on-campus during their infectious periods; however, no classroom close-contacts subsequently reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Two secondary cases likely resulted from unmasked exposure at a school athletic event. There was no correlation between community incidence and secondary transmission in the school. Conclusions: Despite high rates of SARS-CoV-2 community incidence during the study period, routine mitigation practices including daily health screenings, mandatory face coverings, and efficient contact tracing contributed to minimal secondary SARS-CoV-2 transmission within an urban PreK-12 school. The limited school-associated transmission occurred when masks were not used during athletic events.
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Elementary Secondary Education, Private Schools, Disease Incidence, Disease Control, School Closing, Conventional Instruction, Screening Tests, Urban Schools, Athletics
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: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH); National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: HHSN275201000003I; 1OT2HD10755901