A new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in-person classes in K-12 schools do not appear to lead to increases in COVID-19 compared to areas with online-only learning.
The CDC study noted that in the week beginning December 6, cases of coronavirus among the general population in counties where K-12 schools opened for personal learning were similar to rates in counties that were only online.
“The CDC recommends that schools in K-12 be the last settings to close after all other mitigation measures have been taken and the first to reopen when they can do so safely,” the report wrote.
As of Dec. 7, about 62 percent of K-12 school districts were providing full or partial in-person learning, but reports of outbreaks in schools were limited, according to the CDC.
Between March 1 and December 12, nearly 3 million cases of COVID-19 among children, adolescents and young adults were reported in the United States, the report said.
The analysis found that the number of positive cases of COVID-19 was lower among children aged 10 years and less compared to older children and young adults.
Nearly 60 percent of cases were in young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, according to the CDC, while children between the ages of 14 and 17 accounted for 16 percent of the cases.
Children aged 11 to 13 years accounted for 8% of cases, and children aged 5 to 10 years accounted for 11% of cases. Children under 4 years of age accounted for 7.4% of cases.
The lower number of cases among younger children suggests the risk of introducing and transmitting COVID-19 in childcare centers and elementary schools “could be lower” than the reopening of high schools and higher education institutions, the authors wrote.
The data do not indicate that the higher number of cases among adults was preceded by increases among children or adolescents, the report found.
“Schools provide a structured environment that can support adherence to critical mitigation measures to help prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19,” the authors wrote.
“When community transmission is higher, cases should be expected in schools and, as with any group, schools can contribute to the transmission of COVID-19, especially when mitigation measures, such as universal and appropriate masking, do not are implemented or followed “, they added.
The report found that the number of cases among young adults, however, was higher than in other age groups by autumn and summer, preceding increases among other age groups, “suggesting that young adults could contribute more. much more to the community than younger children. ”