ERIC Number: EJ1371896
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-May
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: EISSN-1746-1561
Test-to-Stay in Kindergarten through 12th Grade Schools after Household Exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
Scott, Zeni; Uthappa, Diya M.; Mann, Tara K.; Kim, Hwasoon; Brookhart, M. A.; Edwards, Laura; Rak, Zsolt; Benjamin, Daniel K.; Zimmerman, Kanecia O.; the ABC Science Collaborative
Journal of School Health, v93 n5 p360-369 May 2023
Background: Test-to-stay (TTS) is a strategy to limit school exclusion following an exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We evaluated the use of TTS within universally masked kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) school settings following household SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Methods: Three hundred twenty-two participants were enrolled. Serial rapid antigen testing was performed up to 15 days post-exposure. Analysis-eligible participants completed the 15-day testing protocol, tested positive any time during the testing window, or received a negative test on or after day 9. Primary outcomes included within-school tertiary attack rate (TAR) (test positivity among close contacts of positive TTS participants), and school days saved among TTS participants. Results: Seventy-three of 265 analysis-eligible participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (secondary attack rate of 28% [95% CI: 16-63%]). Among 77 within-school close contacts, 2 were positive (TAR = 3% [95% CI: 1-5%]). Participant absences were limited to 338 days, resulting in 82% of 1849 school days saved. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: TTS facilitates continued in-person learning and can greatly reduce the number of missed school days. Conclusions: Within universally masked K-12 schools, TTS is a safe alternative to school exclusion following household SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
Descriptors: Kindergarten, Young Children, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students, COVID-19, Pandemics, Disease Control, Family Environment, Child Health, Hygiene, Health Behavior, School Safety, Emergency Programs, Medical Evaluation
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: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH); Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: HHSN275201000003I; OT2HD10755901; U24MD016258