Low In-School COVID-19 Transmission and Asymptomatic Infection Despite High Community Prevalence

J Pediatr. 2021 Oct:237:302-306.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.06.015. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

Abstract

There is concern that in-person schooling during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will facilitate disease transmission. Through asymptomatic surveillance and contact tracing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we found low rates of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and little in-school transmission of COVID-19 when physical distancing and masking strategies were enforced despite a high community prevalence of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; student.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / transmission*
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Contact Tracing / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Schools / organization & administration*
  • Schools / statistics & numerical data
  • Tennessee / epidemiology