CDC researchers see little evidence that personal schooling causes COVID-19 infection

(Reuters) – Studies in the United States and abroad have found little evidence that schools are spreading COVID-19 infections, showing a “way forward” to in-person classes, researchers at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. CDC).

The risk of catching COVID-19 in schools and whether to allow personal learning or stay with online courses has been a hot topic of debate in many countries, including the United States.

While there was some evidence of transmission to the school, “the preponderance of evidence available from the fall school semester was reassuring,” the researchers said in an opinion piece on the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). (bit.ly/3a69ZOn)

“As many schools have reopened for personal instruction in some parts of the US, as well as internationally, cases of school-related COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have significantly contributed to community outreach, “The CDC said.

The authors partially highlighted a new CDC study of rural Wisconsin schools, where students’ masks were worn. The incidence of COVID-19 in the 17 elementary schools through high schools was 37% lower than in the general community, without infections acquired at school among staff members.

“Given the findings of our data set, with appropriate precautions, such as spacing and wearing face covering, it seems unlikely that adult school staff will contract COVID-19 in the classroom,” study author Amy said. Falk, of Aspirus Hospitals and Clinics, said in an email response.

CDC scientists at JAMA said school closures could affect academic progress, mental health and access to essential services.

They said mitigation measures, such as universal mask use, social distancing and ventilation, are essential to prevent infection.

In the Wisconsin study, only seven of the 191 cases (3.7%) identified among 5,530 students and staff members between August 31 and November 29, 2020, were associated with school-based transmission, all to students, the researchers reported. .

Social distancing was necessary, and wearing a mask was reported at over 92%. The courses were taught in stable cohorts, both lunch and classes take place indoors. No systematic COVID-19 screening was performed in schools or in the community, but students’ masks were worn by only a few teachers, according to a Wisconsin study published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report.

The researchers found widespread transmission of the virus to the surrounding community during the study period, with 7% to 40% of COVID-19 tests in Wood County showing positive results.

The incidence of COVID-19 among students and staff members in the study translated into 3,453 cases per 100,000 in schools compared to 5,466 per 100,000 in the wider community.