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Martínez-Valdez L, Richardson VL, Bautista-Márquez A, Camacho Franco MA, Cruz Cruz V, Hernández Ávila M. Three years of COVID-19 in children that attend the Mexican Social Security Institute's 1,350 child day-care centers, 2020-2023. Front Pediatr 2024; 11:1292629. [PMID: 38239590 PMCID: PMC10795536 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1292629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have suggested that children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19; however, with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, hospitalization and death due to this cause have increased among the youngest ones. Methods Retrospective, descriptive analytical study of the COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths occurred in children under five years who attended in Child Day-Care Centers (Centros de Atención Infantil-CAIs) of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from 20th July 2020 to 31st March 2023. Results were compared with Mexico's and the US's national-level data. Incidence, attack (children and workers) and mortality rates were estimated. The risks of getting sick, being hospitalized and dying due to COVID-19 were calculated by year. Results There were 4,369 COVID-19 cases among children from IMSS CAIs; 67 (1.5%) required hospitalization and only two deaths were reported (0.04%). Both at IMSS CAIs and at a national level in Mexico and the US, the highest incidences of COVID-19 among children under five years occurred during Omicron prevalence. The attack rate among workers (32.93%) was higher than children (4.99%). Hospitalization and mortality rates in the US decreased since the anti-COVID 19 vaccine was introduced in children older than six months, unlike the rates in Mexico, where the vaccine for this age group was not available. By the year 2020, the children that attended the IMSS CAIs were 77.3% less likely to be hospitalized; 80.9% in 2021, 93.2% in 2022, and 77.7% by March 2023, compared to same age children in Mexico. In 2021, the children that attended IMSS CAIs were 90.6% less likely to die due to COVID-19, and by March 2023, this likelihood was 34.3% lower than the rest of children in this age group in Mexico. Conclusions Children that attended IMSS CAIs had a smaller risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. However, the high rates of hospitalization and death due to SARS-CoV-2 in children under five years in our country point to the need and urgency of vaccination against this virus in this age group, as well as of the adherence to strict detection and medical referral protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vesta L. Richardson
- Dirección de Prestaciones Económicas y Sociales del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
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Vlachou A, Fyssa A, Papazis F, Toulia A, Papazoglou T, Tsermidou L, Kalaitzi S. The educational and psychosocial needs of students with additional provisions during COVID-19 in Greece: Parents' perspectives against schools' crisis management. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 143:104638. [PMID: 37992630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sudden breakdown of educational and care services following the COVID-19 outbreak caused severe implications to the educational and psychosocial well-being of students with additional needs. AIM The present study investigates the perspectives of parents of students requiring additional provisions in relation to the schools' responsiveness against their children's educational and psychosocial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on (non-) applied inclusive and empowerment practices of parenthood. METHODS AND PROCEDURES A sample of 125 parents in Greece filled out a self-reported questionnaire providing information on four main themes: school organisation in accordance with the COVID-19 measures; distance education; support on transition from quarantine and remote education back to school; and parental empowerment. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS The data revealed that most of the participating parents felt poorly supported during the pandemic. The feeling of being left alone in supporting their children and in fully meeting their personal needs and emotions was also identified. The demographics of the participating parents with children with additional needs revealed an experiences mosaic in relation to the parents' level of education, the number of children who were present in their households, the children's gender as well as their level of school education (preschool- and primary school-aged or secondary school-aged pupils) and attendance of the school programme in regular or special schools. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Data suggest that regular and special schools in Greece, as orchestrated by the Ministry of Education, deployed practices that left students requiring additional provisions unsupported in relation to their educational and psychosocial needs while their parents felt disempowered during the whole period of the COVID-19 pandemic. A range of implications on a more effective support for families and their children with additional needs in alignment with the principles of inclusive education is detailed and discussed. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS The focus of research on the schools' responsiveness to the needs of students requiring additional provisions from the perspective of their parents is of critical importance as it may offer valuable insights pertaining to the school's inclusive policy practices and the promotion of empowering parent partnerships during crisis times. The knowledge gained by exploring parents' experiences will contribute significantly to inform modifications and changes in education delivery in crisis times so as school, as a social system, become more inclusive, supportive, and effective for pupils with additional needs. So far, little attention has been paid to the above-mentioned issues. In the current paper, the parents perspectives were explored through a self-reported questionnaire to reflect on the way schools responded to theirs and their children's educational and psychosocial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the participating parents felt poorly supported. The feeling of being left alone in supporting their children and in fully meeting their personal needs and emotions was also identified. The demographics of the participating parents with children requiring additional provisions revealed an experiences mosaic in relation to the parents' level of education, the number of children who were present in their households, the children's gender as well as their level of school education (preschool and primary school or secondary school education) and attendance of the school programme in regular or special schools. A range of implications on a more effective support for families and their children with additional needs in alignment with the principles of inclusive education is detailed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Vlachou
- Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Aristea Fyssa
- Department of Educational Sciences and Early Childhood Education, University of Patras, Patra, Greece
| | - Filippos Papazis
- Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Toulia
- Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
| | - Theodora Papazoglou
- Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Lia Tsermidou
- Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stavroula Kalaitzi
- Department of Educational Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Alishaq M, Al Ajmi JA, Shaheen M, Elgendy M, Vinoy S, Thomas AG, Joseph S, Mathew TE, Joseph R, Thomas C, Alex AK, Thomas B, Nafady A, Elgendy H, Nafady-Hego H. SARS-CoV-2 infection in 3,241 School working staffs: Impact of SARS CoV-2 variants of concern [Wild, B.1.1.7 and Omicron]. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291989. [PMID: 37792687 PMCID: PMC10550119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is debate over whether physical attendance at school affects the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS A cohort of personnel from several schools in Qatar provided nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing. Each of them was monitored for infection until February 2022. RESULTS In total, 3,241 employees gave samples for analysis. Prior to the start of the 2020-2021 academic year (Group I), 3.49% of samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most of the positive PCR results were from male, senior, non-teaching staff members. Only 110 (3.39%) employees who had enrolled in face-to-face instruction before the B.1.1.7 variant's emergence (Group II), 238 (7.34%) after the B.1.1.7 variant's emergence (Group III), and 410 (12.65%) after the introduction of the Omicron variant (Group IV) had reported infection by PCR test. Most people who tested positive by PCR after enrolling in school were young, female teachers. In the Cox Proportional-Hazards Model, exposure to a confirmed case, the presence of symptoms in the two weeks prior to exposure in all groups-young age in Groups II and III, male gender in Groups I and IV, shared housing in Group III, and the presence of comorbidities in Groups II and III independently predicted SARS-CoV-2 infection in school staff. CONCLUSION Critical information about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school workers during the whole pandemic is provided by our study. School operations in Qatar were made safer through initial and ongoing screenings, as well as widespread vaccination of school personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moza Alishaq
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Mohammed Shaheen
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohamed Elgendy
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sains of Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Suni Vinoy
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Sam Joseph
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Renjith Joseph
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Christymol Thomas
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anju K. Alex
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bincy Thomas
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Asmaa Nafady
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Hamed Elgendy
- Anesthesia Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Anesthesia Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
- Faculty of Medicine, Anesthesia Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hanaa Nafady-Hego
- Corporate Quality Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Faculty of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Al Tahrir Medical Center, Doha, Qatar
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Pediconi MG, Brunori M, Romani S. Back to School after Corona Virus Disease of 2019: New Relationships, Distance Schooling, and Experienced Routine. CONTINUITY IN EDUCATION 2023; 4:105-125. [PMID: 38774900 PMCID: PMC11104357 DOI: 10.5334/cie.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has upset the students' daily routine, forcing them at first into a sudden transition to distance learning and then to a return to school modelled on the basis of infection containment measures. The present research involved 157 students from schools in central Italy with a mean age of 13.58 years old to investigate the affective impact of the pandemic on the school experience and its components (recess, oral testing, relationships with classmates, and relationship pupils-teachers). The results show that only a few have experienced school interruption in a traumatic way: they have appreciated neither distance learning, nor the return to school; for these teenagers, the school of the past has died. Other adolescents and pre-adolescents tried to replace the face-to-face mode with distance learning, maintaining certain attention to the school even during the quarantine. However, the online mode did not keep its promise. Those who have invested more in digital innovation find it difficult to return to normality today. For all of them, socialization mediated by school experience is decisive in supporting the return to ordinary life after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michela Brunori
- Department of Economics Society Politics (DESP), University of Urbino, Urbino, IT
| | - Savino Romani
- Department of Economics Society Politics (DESP), University of Urbino, Urbino, IT
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Stanke Z, Spouge JL. Estimating age-stratified transmission and reproduction numbers during the early exponential phase of an epidemic: A case study with COVID-19 data. Epidemics 2023; 44:100714. [PMID: 37595401 PMCID: PMC10528737 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2023.100714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In a pending pandemic, early knowledge of age-specific disease parameters, e.g., susceptibility, infectivity, and the clinical fraction (the fraction of infections coming to clinical attention), supports targeted public health responses like school closures or sequestration of the elderly. The earlier the knowledge, the more useful it is, so the present article examines an early phase of many epidemics, exponential growth. Using age-stratified COVID-19 case counts collected in Canada, China, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom before April 23, 2020, we present a linear analysis of the exponential phase that attempts to estimate the age-specific disease parameters given above. Some combinations of the parameters can be estimated by requiring that they change smoothly with age. The estimation yielded: (1) the case susceptibility, defined for each age-group as the product of susceptibility to infection and the clinical fraction; (2) the mean number of transmissions of infection per contact within each age-group; and (3) the reproduction number of infection within each age-group, i.e., the diagonal of the age-stratified next-generation matrix. Our restriction to data from the exponential phase indicates the combinations of epidemic parameters that are intrinsically easiest to estimate with early age-stratified case counts. For example, conclusions concerning the age-dependence of case susceptibility appeared more robust than corresponding conclusions about infectivity. Generally, the analysis produced some results consistent with conclusions confirmed much later in the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, our analysis showed that in some countries, the reproduction number of infection within the half-decade 70-75 was unusually large compared to other half-decades. Our analysis therefore could have anticipated that without countermeasures, COVID-19 would spread rapidly once seeded in homes for the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Stanke
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - John L Spouge
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
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Weng X, Chen Q, Sathapathi TK, Yin X, Wang L. Impact of school operating scenarios on COVID-19 transmission under vaccination in the U.S.: an agent-based simulation model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12836. [PMID: 37553415 PMCID: PMC10409779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37980-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, K-12 schools struggled to safely operate under the fast-changing pandemic situation. However, little is known about the impact of different school operating scenarios considering the ongoing efforts of vaccination. In this study, we deployed an agent-based simulation model to mimic disease transmission in a mid-sized community consisting of 10,000 households. A total of eight school operating scenarios were simulated, in decreasing order of restrictiveness regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures. When masks were worn at school, work, and community environments, increasing in-person education from 50% to 100% would result in only 1% increase in cumulative infections. When there were no masks nor contact tracing while schools were 100% in person, the cumulative infection increased by 86% compared to the scenario when both masking and contact tracing were in place. In the sensitivity analysis for vaccination efficacy, we found that higher vaccination efficacy was essential in reducing overall infections. Our findings showed that full in-person education was safe, especially when contact tracing, masking, and widespread vaccination were in place. If no masking nor contact tracing was practiced, the transmission would rose dramatically but eventually slow down due to herd immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingran Weng
- Department of Public Health Sciences, A210, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Suite 2200, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Qiushi Chen
- Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Tarun Kumar Sathapathi
- Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Xin Yin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, A210, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Suite 2200, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, A210, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Suite 2200, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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Watts AW, Mâsse LC, Goldfarb DM, Irvine MA, Hutchison SM, Muttucomaroe L, Poon B, Barakauskas VE, O'Reilly C, Bosman E, Reicherz F, Coombs D, Pitblado M, O'Brien SF, Lavoie PM. SARS-CoV-2 cross-sectional seroprevalence study among public school staff in Metro Vancouver after the first Omicron wave in British Columbia, Canada. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071228. [PMID: 37308276 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school workers within the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada, after the first Omicron wave. DESIGN Cross-sectional study by online questionnaire, with blood serology testing. SETTING Three main school districts (Vancouver, Richmond and Delta) in the Vancouver metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS Active school staff enrolled from January to April 2022, with serology testing between 27 January and 8 April 2022. Seroprevalence estimates were compared with data obtained from Canadian blood donors weighted over the same sampling period, age, sex and postal code distribution. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody testing results adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity, and regional variation across school districts using Bayesian models. RESULTS Of 1850 school staff enrolled, 65.8% (1214/1845) reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside the household. Of those close contacts, 51.5% (625/1214) were a student and 54.9% (666/1214) were a coworker. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 positive testing by self-reported nucleic acid or rapid antigen testing since the beginning of the pandemic was 15.8% (291/1845). In a representative sample of 1620 school staff who completed serology testing (87.6%), the adjusted seroprevalence was 26.5% (95% CrI 23.9% to 29.3%), compared with 32.4% (95% CrI 30.6% to 34.5%) among 7164 blood donors. CONCLUSION Despite frequent COVID-19 exposures reported, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff in this setting remained no greater than the community reference group. Results are consistent with the premise that many infections were acquired outside the school setting, even with Omicron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison W Watts
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Louise C Mâsse
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David M Goldfarb
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mike A Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah M Hutchison
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lauren Muttucomaroe
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bethany Poon
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vilte E Barakauskas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Else Bosman
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Frederic Reicherz
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel Coombs
- Department of Mathematics and Institute of Applied Mathematics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Pitblado
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pascal M Lavoie
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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8
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Heinsohn T, Lange B, Vanella P, Rodiah I, Glöckner S, Joachim A, Becker D, Brändle T, Dhein S, Ehehalt S, Fries M, Galante-Gottschalk A, Jehnichen S, Kolkmann S, Kossow A, Hellmich M, Dötsch J, Krause G. Infection and transmission risks of COVID-19 in schools and their contribution to population infections in Germany: A retrospective observational study using nationwide and regional health and education agency notification data. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003913. [PMID: 36538517 PMCID: PMC9767368 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School-level infection control measures in Germany during the early Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic differed across the 16 federal states and lacked a dependable evidence base, with available evidence limited to regional data restricted to short phases of the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the (a) infection risks in students and staff; (b) transmission risks and routes in schools; (c) effects of school-level infection control measures on school and population infection dynamics; and (d) contribution of contacts in schools to population cases. METHODS AND FINDINGS For this retrospective observational study, we used German federal state (NUTS-2) and county (NUTS-3) data from public health and education agencies from March 2020 to April 2022. We assessed (a) infection risk as cumulative risk and crude risk ratios and (b) secondary attack rates (SARs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). We used (c) multiple regression analysis for the effects of infection control measures such as reduced attendance, mask mandates, and vaccination coverage as absolute reduction in case incidence per 100,000 inhabitants per 14 days and in percentage relative to the population, and (d) infection dynamic modelling to determine the percentage contribution of school contacts to population cases. We included (a) nationwide NUTS-2 data from calendar weeks (W) 46-50/2020 and W08/2021-W15/2022 with 3,521,964 cases in students and 329,283 in teachers; (b) NUTS-3 data from W09-25/2021 with 85,788 student and 9,427 teacher cases; and (c) detailed data from 5 NUTS-3 regions from W09/2020 to W27/2021 with 12,814 cases (39% male, 37% female; median age 14, range 5 to 63), 43,238 contacts and 4,165 secondary cases for students (for teachers, 14,801 [22% male, 50% female; median age 39, range 16 to 75], 5,893 and 472). Infection risk (a) for students and teachers was higher than the population risk in all phases of normal presence class and highest in the early 2022 omicron wave with 30.6% (95% CI 30.5% to 32.6%) of students and 32.7% (95% CI 32.6% to 32.8%) of teachers infected in Germany. SARs (b) for students and staff were below 5% in schools throughout the study period, while SARs in households more than doubled from 13.8% (95% CI 10.6% to 17.6%) W21-39/2020 to 28.7% (95% CI 27% to 30.4%) in W08-23/2021 for students and 10.9% (95% CI 7% to 16.5%) to 32.7% (95% CI 28.2% to 37.6%) for staff. Most contacts were reported for schools, yet most secondary cases originated in households. In schools, staff predominantly infected staff. Mandatory surgical mask wearing during class in all schools was associated with a reduction in the case incidence of students and teachers (c), by 56/100,000 persons per 14 days (students: 95% CI 47.7 to 63.4; teachers: 95% CI 39.6 to 71.6; p < 0.001) and by 29.8% (95% CI 25% to 35%, p < 0.001) and 24.3% (95% CI 13% to 36%, p < 0.001) relative to the population, respectively, as were reduced attendance and higher vaccination coverage. The contribution of contacts in schools to population cases (d) was 2% to 20%, lowest during school closures/vacation and peaked during normal presence class intervals, with the overall peak early during the omicron wave. Limitations include underdetection, misclassification of contacts, interviewer/interviewee dependence of contact-tracing, and lack of individual-level confounding factors in aggregate data regression analysis. CONCLUSION In this study, we observed that open schools under hygiene measures and testing strategies contributed up to 20% of population infections during the omicron wave early 2022, and as little as 2% during vacations/school closures; about a third of students and teachers were infected during the omicron wave in early 2022 in Germany. Mandatory mask wearing during class in all school types and reduced attendance models were associated with a reduced infection risk in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Heinsohn
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Berit Lange
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Patrizio Vanella
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- Chair of Empirical Methods in Social Science and Demography, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Isti Rodiah
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephan Glöckner
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Alexander Joachim
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dennis Becker
- Public Health Department Konstanz, Gottmadingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Brändle
- Institute of Educational Monitoring and Quality Development, Agency for Schools and Vocational Training, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Dhein
- Public Health Department Altenburger Land, Altenburg, Germany
| | | | - Mira Fries
- Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Sarah Kolkmann
- Public Health Department Altenburger Land, Altenburg, Germany
| | - Annelene Kossow
- Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Martin Hellmich
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Dötsch
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gérard Krause
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
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9
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Goldenfeld M, Cohen C, Gilboa M, Pessach IM, Mehnick B, Tal I, Meltzer L, Amit S, Gonen T, Afek A, Kreiss Y, Regev-Yochay G. Rapid Antigen Tests For Safe School Opening in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2022; 41:e312-e317. [PMID: 35544718 PMCID: PMC9281426 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the beginning of the Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, school closure as a mitigating measure was at the center of a public and professional debate. While the negative effects of school closure cannot be ignored, accumulating data suggested that it is necessary for reducing community transmission. Our study presents an optional strategy for safe school opening during a pandemic, implemented in selected Israeli high schools by a special task force constructed by the Sheba Medical Center (SMC). METHODS The study took place between November 2020 and April 2021. Three schools from different areas of Israel were enrolled. The participants were asked to undergo bi-weekly SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic antigen tests (Ag-RDT). Those who tested positive were requested to self-isolate, whereas their school contacts were tested daily by Ag-RDT. Participants with a previously documented SARS-CoV-2 infection or who were found to be SARS-CoV-2 seropositive upon enrollment were exempted from screening. RESULTS Of a total of 361 participants who enrolled in the study, 12.3% were found to be seropositive. Fourteen SARS-CoV-2 cases were detected (3.5%), 12 of them in one single school located in an endemic area for SARS-CoV-2. The 14 cases resulted in 84 days of COVID-19-related absence from school, comparing with 1775 potential days of COVID-19-related absence under a strategy implementing self-isolation instead of testing. CONCLUSIONS Safe continuation of academic routine during the pandemic is possible when using rapid Ag-RDT as a screening tool, while allowing swab collection by trained students and teachers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Goldenfeld
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Carmit Cohen
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mayan Gilboa
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itai M. Pessach
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Bella Mehnick
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ilana Tal
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Lilac Meltzer
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sharon Amit
- Clinical Microbiology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Tal Gonen
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Arnon Afek
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The General Management, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yitshak Kreiss
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The General Management, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Gili Regev-Yochay
- From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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10
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Powell AA, Ireland G, Aiano F, Flood J, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Beckmann J, Garstang J, Okike I, Ahmad S, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN, Baawuah F. Perceptions of adolescents on the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to school: qualitative questionnaire survey, September 2020, England. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:456. [PMID: 35906588 PMCID: PMC9334543 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the views of adolescents returning to secondary school during the current COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS In September 2020, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly known as Public Health England (PHE),recruited staff and students in secondary schools to provide nasal swabs, oral fluid and blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody testing. Students aged 11-18 years in five London schools completed a short questionnaire about their perception of the pandemic, returning to school, risk to themselves and to others and infection control measures, and participating in school testing. RESULTS A questionnaire was completed by 64% (297/462) of participants. Students were generally not anxious at all (19.7%; 58/294) or not really anxious (40.0%; 114/295) about returning to school, although 5.4% (n = 16/295) were extremely nervous. Most students were very worried about transmitting the virus to their family (60.2%; 177/294) rather than to other students (22.0%; 65/296) or school staff (19.3%; 57/296), or catching the infection themselves (12.5%; 37/296). Students were more likely to maintain physical distancing in the presence of school staff (84.6%; 247/292) and in public places (79.5%; 233/293) but not when with other students (46.8%; 137/293) or friends (40.8%; 120/294). A greater proportion of younger students (school years 7-9; 11-14-year-olds) reported not being anxious at all than older students (school years 12-13; 16-18-year-olds) (47/174 [27.0%] vs 3/63 [4.8%]; p = 0.001). Younger students were also less likely to adhere to physical distancing measures and wear face masks. Most students reported positive experiences with SARS-CoV-2 testing in schools, with 92.3% (262/284) agreeing to have another blood test in future visits. CONCLUSIONS Younger students in secondary schools were less concerned about catching and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 and were less likely to adhere to protective measures. Greater awareness of the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between secondary school students potentially leading to increased risk of infection in their teachers and their household members may increase adherence to infection control measures within and outside schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel A Powell
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Georgina Ireland
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Felicity Aiano
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Jessica Flood
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Zahin Amin-Chowdhury
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Joanne Beckmann
- Specialist Children & Young People's Services, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Shazaad Ahmad
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Mary E Ramsay
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Shamez N Ladhani
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK. .,Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St. George's University of London, London, UK.
| | - Frances Baawuah
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
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11
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Liu S, Wang G. Exploration of Sports Participation and Curriculum Resource Utilization in Primary Schools Before and After the “Double Reduction”. Front Psychol 2022; 13:898675. [PMID: 35911032 PMCID: PMC9336544 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.898675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to eliminate capital chaos in the Education And Training (EAT) industry and ease parents' and students' excessive attention to subject achievements over physical quality, China government has launched the “Double Reduction” (“DR”) policy which promotes students' Sports Participation (SP) in the Compulsory Education (CE) stage concerning students' physical and mental health. Firstly, based on the actual situation of students' SP before and after releasing the “DR” policy, this paper understands the exact needs of parents and children. Secondly, following empirical research and mathematical statistics, it analyzes the structure and characteristics of students' SP before and after the release of the “DR” policy. Mainly, the experiment focuses on the frequency, project types, and off-campus class expenditure. It also considers students' SP motivation in on-campus and off-campus sports classes before and after the “DR” policy proposal. Additionally the general curriculum resource utilization of PE teachers are surveyed in order to find out the current status of on-campus PE classes. Eventually, the strategies are put forward to optimize students' SP under the “DR” from the perspectives of family, school, and society. The results show that after the release of “DR”, parents and schools gradually pay attention to student's physical health and better understand students' physical exercise in school. The consumption expenditure on sports off-campus classes has increased significantly. Meanwhile, family income and the father's occupation significantly impact the children's SP frequency in off-campus sports classes. Overall, “DR” is a protracted war. The existing difficulties need to be solved by families, schools, and the government. The research provides a practical basis for extending and managing on-campus sports classes and training. It helps timely uncover the problems in policy implementation. It guides the formulation of PE policy in the next stage of CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhong Liu
- School of Physical Education, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Graduate Students' Affairs Department, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guihong Wang
- School of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Guihong Wang
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12
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Implementing the Lolli-Method and pooled RT-qPCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in schools: a pilot project. Infection 2022; 51:459-464. [PMID: 35759174 PMCID: PMC9243733 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01865-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose School closures have been used as part of lockdown strategies to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, adversely affecting children’s health and education. To ensure the accessibility of educational institutions without exposing society to the risk of increased transmissions, it is essential to establish SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies that are child-friendly, scalable and implementable in a daily school routine. Self-sampling using non-invasive saliva swabs combined with pooled RT-qPCR testing (Lolli-Method) has been proven to be a sensitive method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Methods We conducted a pilot project in Cologne, Germany, designed to determine the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of the Lolli-Method for testing without any additional on-site medical staff in schools. Over a period of three weeks, students from 22 schools were sampled using the Lolli-Method. At the end of the project, teachers were asked to evaluate the overall acceptance of the project. Results We analyzed a total of 757 pooled RT-qPCRs obtained from 8,287 individual swabs and detected 7 SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. The Lolli-Method was shown to be a feasible and accepted testing strategy whose application is only slightly disruptive to the daily school routine. Conclusion Our observations suggest that the Lolli-Method in combination with pooled RT-qPCR can be implemented for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in daily school routine, applicable on a large scale. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s15010-022-01865-0.
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13
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Powers KA, Sullivan KM, Zadrozny SL, Shook-Sa BE, Byrnes R, Bogojevich DA, Lauen DL, Thompson P, Robinson WR, Gordon-Larsen P, Aiello AE. North Carolina public school teachers' contact patterns and mask use within and outside of school during the prevaccine phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Infect Control 2022; 50:608-617. [PMID: 34971715 PMCID: PMC8714247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Teachers are central to school-associated transmission networks, but little is known about their behavioral patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 700 North Carolina public school teachers in 4 districts open to in-person learning in November-December 2020 (pre-COVID-19 vaccines). We assessed indoor and outdoor time spent, numbers of people encountered at <6 feet ("close contacts"), and mask use by teachers and those around them at specific locations on the most recent weekday and weekend day. RESULTS Nearly all respondents reported indoor time at home (98%) and school (94%) on the most recent weekday, while 62% reported indoor time at stores, 18% at someone else's home, and 17% at bars/restaurants. Responses were similar for the most recent weekend day, excepting school (where 5% reported indoor time). Most teachers (>94%) reported wearing masks inside school, stores, and salons; intermediate percentages (∼50%-85%) inside places of worship, bars/restaurants, and recreational settings; and few (<25%) in their or others' homes. Approximately half reported daily close contact with students. CONCLUSIONS As schools reopened in the COVID-19 pandemic, potential transmission opportunities arose through close contacts within and outside of school, along with suboptimal mask use by teachers and/or those around them. Our granular estimates underscore the importance of multilayered mitigation strategies and can inform interventions and mathematical models addressing school-associated transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
| | - Kristin M Sullivan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Sabrina L Zadrozny
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Bonnie E Shook-Sa
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Rosemary Byrnes
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - David A Bogojevich
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Douglas L Lauen
- Department of Public Policy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Peyton Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Whitney R Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Penny Gordon-Larsen
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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14
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Ung L, Chodosh J. COVID-19 and the eye: alternative facts The 2022 Bowman Club, David L. Easty lecture. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2022; 7:bmjophth-2022-001042. [PMID: 35675203 PMCID: PMC9114314 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-001042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to catastrophic loss of life, and dramatic and unwanted alterations to the daily lives of those left behind, the COVID-19 pandemic has fostered the publication and dissemination of an unprecedented quantity of peer-reviewed medical and scientific publications on a single subject. In particular, the ophthalmic literature is now replete with clinical and laboratory studies on putative eye involvement by SARS-CoV-2, the aetiologic agent of COVID-19. In this review, we critically appraise the published literature on COVID-19, and suggest that the quality of scientific peer review and editorial decision-making also suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawson Ung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Chodosh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Perspectives and Factors Affecting the Preventive Behavior Pertinent to COVID-19 among School Employees in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095662. [PMID: 35565063 PMCID: PMC9104893 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The school is one of the most challenging environments for management to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. School employees play important roles as the main practitioners of recommended preventive measures. Consistent application of preventive measures by school employees strengthens the school’s readiness to reopen for on-site education. The study objectives are (1) to assess school employee agreement and actions in accordance with the preventive measures and recommendations for COVID-19 prevention and control, (2) to assess the readiness of the school and employees for on-site education, and (3) to determine factors associated with consistent performance of these measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey from 5 November 2021 to 25 January 2022. Self-reported online questionnaires were used to collect school employees’ data. The readiness of schools for on-site education was assessed using 44 indicators from the practical guidelines by the Thai Department of Health. Of the 402 study participants, the majority of participants had agreed to all measures and recommendations for COVID-19 prevention and control in school. High levels of concern and disagreement in school re-opening (aOR 3.78, 95%CI 1.04 to 13.70; p = 0.043) were associated with higher consistent performance of the measures and recommendations for COVID-19 prevention and control in schools. Male teachers (aOR 0.43, 95%CI 0.23 to 0.80; p = 0.008) and any disagreement with these measures and recommendations (aOR 0.03, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.23; p < 0.001) were associated with lower consistent performance. Our study findings can inform the stakeholders to decide on the re-opening and supportive strategies. School employees, especially in male employees, must be supported from the relevant sectors to decrease disagreement to the measures and enhance awareness of the pandemic situation before the school re-opening.
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16
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Goldfarb DM, Mâsse LC, Watts AW, Hutchison SM, Muttucomaroe L, Bosman ES, Barakauskas VE, Choi A, Dhillon N, Irvine MA, Reicherz F, O'Reilly C, Sediqi S, Xu RY, Razzaghian HR, Sadarangani M, Coombs D, O'Brien SF, Lavoie PM. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among Vancouver public school staff in British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e057846. [PMID: 35383082 PMCID: PMC8983418 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few studies reported COVID-19 cases in schools during the 2020/21 academic year in a setting of uninterrupted in-person schooling. The main objective was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff in Vancouver public schools. DESIGN Cumulative incident COVID-19 cases among all students and school staff based on public health data, with an embedded cross-sectional serosurvey among a school staff sample that was compared to period, age, sex and geographical location-weighted data from blood donors. SETTING Vancouver School District (British Columbia, Canada) from kindergarten to grade 12. PARTICIPANTS Active school staff enrolled from 3 February to 23 April 2021 with serology testing from 10 February to 15 May 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff, based on spike (S)-based (unvaccinated staff) or N-based serology testing (vaccinated staff). RESULTS Public health data showed the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 among students attending in-person was 9.8 per 1000 students (n=47 280), and 13 per 1000 among school staff (n=7071). In a representative sample of 1689 school staff, 78.2% had classroom responsibilities, and spent a median of 17.6 hours in class per week (IQR: 5.0-25 hours). Although 21.5% (363/1686) of surveyed staff self-reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside of their household (16.5% contacts were school-based), 5 cases likely acquired the infection at school based on viral testing. Sensitivity/Specificity-adjusted seroprevalence in 1556/1689 staff (92.1%) was 2.3% (95% CI: 1.6% to 3.2%), comparable to a sex, age, date and residency area-weighted seroprevalence of 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2% to 3.1%) among 5417 blood donors. CONCLUSION Seroprevalence among staff was comparable to a reference group of blood donors from the same community. These data show that in-person schooling could be safely maintained during the 2020/21 school year with mitigation measures, in a large school district in Vancouver, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Goldfarb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Louise C Mâsse
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Allison W Watts
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah M Hutchison
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lauren Muttucomaroe
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Else S Bosman
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vilte E Barakauskas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alexandra Choi
- Office of the Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nalin Dhillon
- Office of the Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael A Irvine
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Frederic Reicherz
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Sadaf Sediqi
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rui Yang Xu
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hamid R Razzaghian
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Manish Sadarangani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vaccine Evaluation Center, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel Coombs
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pascal M Lavoie
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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17
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Alonso S, Català M, López D, Álvarez-Lacalle E, Jordan I, García-García JJ, Fumadó V, Muñoz-Almagro C, Gratacós E, Balanza N, Varo R, Millat P, Baro B, Ajanovic S, Arias S, Claverol J, de Sevilla MF, Bonet-Carne E, Garcia-Miquel A, Coma E, Medina-Peralta M, Fina F, Prats C, Bassat Q. Individual prevention and containment measures in schools in Catalonia, Spain, and community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 after school re-opening. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263741. [PMID: 35171936 PMCID: PMC8849486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite their clear lesser vulnerability to COVID-19, the extent by which children are susceptible to getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 and their capacity to transmit the infection to other people remains inadequately characterized. We aimed to evaluate the role of school reopening and the preventive strategies in place at schools in terms of overall risk for children and community transmission, by comparing transmission rates in children as detected by a COVID-19 surveillance platform in place in Catalonian Schools to the incidence at the community level. METHODS AND FINDINGS Infections detected in Catalan schools during the entire first trimester of classes (September-December 2020) were analysed and compared with the ongoing community transmission and with the modelled predicted number of infections. There were 30.486 infections (2.12%) documented among the circa 1.5M pupils, with cases detected in 54.0% and 97.5% of the primary and secondary centres, respectively. During the entire first term, the proportion of "bubble groups" (stable groups of children doing activities together) that were forced to undergo confinement ranged between 1 and 5%, with scarce evidence of substantial intraschool transmission in the form of chains of infections, and with ~75% of all detected infections not leading to secondary cases. Mathematical models were also used to evaluate the effect of different parameters related to the defined preventive strategies (size of the bubble group, number of days of confinement required by contacts of an index case). The effective reproduction number inside the bubble groups in schools (R*), defined as the average number of schoolmates infected by each primary case within the bubble, was calculated, yielding a value of 0.35 for primary schools and 0.55 for secondary schools, and compared with the outcomes of the mathematical model, implying decreased transmissibility for children in the context of the applied measures. Relative homogenized monthly cumulative incidence ([Formula: see text]) was assessed to compare the epidemiological dynamics among different age groups and this analysis suggested the limited impact of infections in school-aged children in the context of the overall community incidence. CONCLUSIONS During the fall of 2020, SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases detected in Catalan schools closely mirrored the underlying community transmission from the neighbourhoods where they were set and maintaining schools open appeared to be safe irrespective of underlying community transmission. Preventive measures in place in those schools appeared to be working for the early detection and rapid containment of transmission and should be maintained for the adequate and safe functioning of normal academic and face-to-face school activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Alonso
- Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Català
- Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB), Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniel López
- Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Iolanda Jordan
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José García-García
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoria Fumadó
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Muñoz-Almagro
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Gratacós
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Balanza
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosauro Varo
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Pere Millat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bàrbara Baro
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Ajanovic
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Sara Arias
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joana Claverol
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Fernández de Sevilla
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisenda Bonet-Carne
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Garcia-Miquel
- BCNatal | Fetal Medicine Research Center (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ermengol Coma
- Sistema d’Informació dels Serveis d’Atenció Primària (SISAP), Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Medina-Peralta
- Sistema d’Informació dels Serveis d’Atenció Primària (SISAP), Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Fina
- Sistema d’Informació dels Serveis d’Atenció Primària (SISAP), Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Prats
- Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quique Bassat
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
- ICREA, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
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Travis R, Levy IP, Morphew AC. "Now We're All Family": Exploring Social and Emotional Development in a Summer Hip Hop Mixtape Camp. CHILD & ADOLESCENT SOCIAL WORK JOURNAL : C & A 2022; 41:1-18. [PMID: 35194310 PMCID: PMC8853411 DOI: 10.1007/s10560-022-00821-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Child and adolescent mental health indicators were trending in the wrong direction pre-COVID-19 and have worsened with the exacerbation of life stressors during a pandemic, especially among youth of color and girls (Racine et al. in JAMA Pediatr 175:1142-1150, 2021). Hip Hop integrated group work with adolescents has increased in the literature, with an emphasis on being more culturally responsive and engaging compared to traditional therapeutic approaches. Levy and Travis (J Spec Group Work 45:307-330, 2020) found in their research that while all Hip Hop integrated groups were effective, the semi-structured group had the most significant reduction in symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, compared to the highly structured and minimally structured groups. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a Hip Hop integrated intervention, that is multi-modal and interdisciplinary (i.e., blending two distinct models [HHE/CCMC] and facilitated by a social worker and school counselor). could effectively promote positive social and emotional development, across three leadership styles. Three groups of six high school students (total n = 18), identifying predominantly as Latinx and Black, were selected from a high school summer enrichment program. Results suggest social and emotional benefits for youth across all groups, regardless of facilitation style. Benefits included increased confidence, a strong sense of community, experiencing joy, and a willingness to step outside of their comfort zones to collaborate and create something personally meaningful. The setting (summer) and sample (high school students) have implications for programming and policies to best meet the mental health needs of youth year round and during times of instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Travis
- School of Social Work, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666 USA
| | - Ian P. Levy
- Department of Counseling and Therapy, Manhattan College, Bronx, USA
| | - Alexandra C. Morphew
- School of Social Work, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666 USA
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Schechter-Perkins EM, van den Berg P, Branch-Elliman W. The Science Behind Safe School Re-opening: Leveraging the Pillars of Infection Control to Support Safe Elementary and Secondary Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofab134. [PMID: 35141343 PMCID: PMC7989186 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There are limited tools for adapting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection control plans to school settings. We present an infection prevention model for optimizing safe re-opening for elementary and secondary schools during the global COVID-19 pandemic and review the current evidence behind various infection prevention interventions in school settings. The model is adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fundamental pillars for infection prevention and includes 4 categories of intervention: epidemiologic controls (town prevalence metrics, diagnostic testing, quarantine strategies), administrative controls (state vaccination policies, alternative school models, symptom screens, quarantine breaks), engineering/environmental controls (distancing, outdoor space, ventilation), and personal protective equipment (PPE)/hand hygiene (face coverings, hand sanitizing). The adapted infection control pillars model utilizes implementation science–informed considerations to maximize pragmatism and adherence by leveraging evidence-based strategies. It highlights the necessity of redundant infection prevention interventions, acknowledges the importance of community buy-in to achieve real-world effectiveness, and addresses tactics to overcome implementation barriers. Recommendations are grounded in the Dynamic Sustainability Framework and include suggestions to maintain infection prevention effectiveness over time to ensure ongoing safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa M Schechter-Perkins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Polly van den Berg
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Westyn Branch-Elliman
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,VA Boston Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Franks J, Gruss B, Mulas-Granados C, Patnam M, Weber S. Reopening strategies, mobility and COVID-19 infections in Europe: panel data analysis. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055938. [PMID: 35140160 PMCID: PMC8829848 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Characterise the reopening policies of European countries after the first wave of infections and evaluate how these policies affected economic activity and subsequent infections. STUDY DESIGN Using publicly available data, we construct a database of reopening policy announcements by country authorities and develop measures related to the speed and timing of reopening. Using panel data regressions, we then assess how a country's reopening action subsequently affected its mobility and COVID-19 infections. Samples of 22 European countries used in the study comprise: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the UK. MAIN OUTCOMES Mobility index as well as COVID-19 case and death counts. RESULTS Reopening policies are associated with a 1.5 percentage point increase in mobility and a 4% increase in subsequent infections after 2 weeks. However, some reopening strategies are associated with lower infection risk. In particular, early and fast reopeners saw 5%-10% increases in infections relative to those that opened later and adopted a gradual approach. The sequencing of sectoral reopenings matters, with infection amplification effects larger for some sectors (like retail and events) than others (like schools). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest some merit of gradual and late reopening strategies with a careful sequencing of sectoral openings based on their infection amplification risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Franks
- European Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bertrand Gruss
- European Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Manasa Patnam
- European Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sebastian Weber
- European Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, USA
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21
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Haliwa I, Layman H, Coffman J, Snodgrass A, Santer P, Barlett B, Long K, Mason A, Pfost G, Harden J, Dino G, Jarrett T. Perceptions and Expectations of School-Based Professionals Surrounding School-Based Mindfulness Training in Appalachia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:816494. [PMID: 35186847 PMCID: PMC8854180 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.816494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background School-based professionals often report high burnout, particularly in geographic areas like Appalachia, where school-aged children are exposed to high levels of adverse childhood experiences, which may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While school-based mindfulness trainings can reduce burnout, their efficacy is influenced by the expectations of intervention personnel ahead of implementation. The present study assessed expectations and perceptions of a school-based mindfulness training among school personnel in 21 Appalachian schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Upon enrollment in the training, staff (N = 191) responded to open ended survey questions regarding perceived impacts of COVID-19 on students, expected benefits and barriers to school-based mindfulness, and perceived community acceptance of mindfulness. Results School personnel identified social isolation and lack of structure as negative impacts of COVID-19 on students. Expected benefits of classroom mindfulness included improved coping skills, focus, and emotion regulation, whereas barriers included lack of time and student ability level (e.g., age, attention). While most respondents indicated that their community was accepting of mindfulness practices, some noted resistance to and misperceptions of mindfulness, which may illustrate the influence of local cultural norms and values on the acceptability of mental health interventions. Conclusions Overall, these findings suggest positive expectations and relative perceived support for mindfulness practices within these Appalachian communities, including in response to negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students. Adapting practices and language to accommodate barriers such as time, student ability, and cultural misconceptions of mindfulness may increase the feasibility and efficacy of these interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Haliwa
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
- *Correspondence: Ilana Haliwa
| | - Hannah Layman
- WVU School of Public Health, West Virginia Prevention Research Center, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Jessica Coffman
- WVU School of Public Health, West Virginia Prevention Research Center, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Amy Snodgrass
- Department of Rural Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Pamela Santer
- Wellness Center, WVU Parkersburg, Parkersburg, WV, United States
| | | | - Kate Long
- Try This West Virginia, Charleston, WV, United States
| | - Ashley Mason
- School of Physical Therapy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Gretchen Pfost
- School of Physical Therapy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Jenny Harden
- Greenbrier County Schools, Rupert, WV, United States
| | - Geri Dino
- WVU School of Public Health, West Virginia Prevention Research Center, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Traci Jarrett
- WVU School of Public Health, West Virginia Prevention Research Center, Morgantown, WV, United States
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Ko LK, Tingey L, Ramirez M, Pablo E, Grass R, Larzelere F, Cisneros O, Chu HY, D’Agostino EM. Mobilizing Established School Partnerships to Reach Underserved Children During a Global Pandemic. Pediatrics 2022; 149:e2021054268F. [PMID: 34737178 PMCID: PMC9153654 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-054268f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to drastic public health measures, including school closures to slow the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Reopening educational settings by using diagnostic testing approaches in schools can help accelerate the safe return of students and staff to on-site learning by quickly and accurately identifying cases, limiting the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and ultimately preventing unnecessary school and work absenteeism. Although the National Institutes of Health has identified community partnerships as the foundation for reducing health disparities, we found limited application of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in school engagement. Guided by the CBPR conceptual model, we provide case studies of 2 established and long-standing school-academic partnerships built on CBPR processes and practices that have served as a research infrastructure to reach underserved children and families during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The process described in this article can serve as an initial platform to continue to build capacity toward increasing health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda K. Ko
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lauren Tingey
- Center for American Indian Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Magaly Ramirez
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Elliott Pablo
- Center for American Indian Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Whiteriver, Arizona
| | - Ryan Grass
- Center for American Indian Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Whiteriver, Arizona
| | - Francene Larzelere
- Center for American Indian Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Whiteriver, Arizona
| | | | - Helen Y. Chu
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Emily M. D’Agostino
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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23
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Saliva-Based, COVID-19 RT-PCR Pooled Screening Strategy to Keep Schools Open. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 17:e70. [PMID: 35027100 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As of March 2020, governments throughout the world implemented business closures, work from home policies, and school closures due to exponential increase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, leaving only essential workers being able to work on site. For most of the children and adolescent school closures during the first lockdown had significant physical and psychosocial consequences. Here, we describe a comprehensive Return to School program based on a behavior safety protocol combined with the use of saliva-based reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) pooled screening technique to keep schools opened. METHODS The program had 2 phases: before school (safety and preparation protocols) and once at school (disease control program: saliva-based RT-PCR pooled screening protocol and contact tracing). Pooling: Aliquots of saliva from 24 individuals were pooled and 1 RT-PCR test was performed. If positive, the initial 24-pool was then retested (12 pools of 2). Individual RT-PCR tests from saliva samples from positive pools of 2 were performed to get an individual diagnosis. RESULTS From August 31 until December 20, 2020 (16-wk period) a total of 3 pools, and subsequent 3 individual diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease were reported (2 teachers and 1 staff). CONCLUSION Until COVID-19 vaccine can be administered broadly to all-age children, saliva-based RT-PCR pooling testing is the missing piece we were searching for to keep schools opened.
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Branch-Elliman W, van den Berg P, Dong SW, Kapoor AK, Merchant EA, Schechter-Perkins EM. A pilot model of a public-private partnership for implementation of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnostic testing program to facilitate a safe school reopening. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2022; 2:e4. [PMID: 36310804 PMCID: PMC9614916 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2021.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We developed an implementation plan to integrate diagnostic testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into a public school system. Implementation barriers were identified and strategies were mapped to overcome them. DESIGN A COVID-19 diagnostic testing program leveraging a public-private partnership was developed for a public school system. SETTING A suburban school district and a local hospital during the 2020-2021 academic year. METHODS Using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs and evidenced-based implementation strategies, the program was designed as a "closed system" and was adapted based on stakeholder feedback. Implementation barriers and facilitators were identified and mapped to CFIR constructs to provide insights into factors influencing program adoption. RESULTS Preimplementation stages of engagement, feasibility, and readiness planning were completed. The program did not progress to implementation due to multiple factors, including changes in school leadership (inner setting and process-level constructs), improved access to outside testing, and lack of an existing paradigm for in-school testing (external constructs). Limited support from key stakeholders and opinion leaders was also a barrier (process-level construct). CONCLUSIONS Although this locally initiated program did not progress beyond the preimplementation stage, the processes developed and barriers identified may be useful to inform planning efforts in other testing programs within public school systems. Future programs may consider incorporating multiplex diagnostic testing for influenza in addition to COVID-19. With relaxation of infection control measures, the prevalence of other respiratory viruses will increase. Actionable results will be needed to inform decisions about closures and quarantines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Westyn Branch-Elliman
- Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Boston Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Boston, Massachusetts
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Polly van den Berg
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara W. Dong
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew K. Kapoor
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elisabeth A. Merchant
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elissa M. Schechter-Perkins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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Abstract
The relative increase in coronavirus disease incidence during summer 2020 in Israel was most prominent in young children. This finding contrasts with the lower increase in incidence observed in children than in adults during the school attendance period. School closure without lockdown conditions might not be independently effective at reducing spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Somekh
- Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqwa, Israel (I. Somekh)
- Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (I. Somekh, E. Somekh)
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA (E.A.F. Simões)
- Mayanei Hayeshuah Medical Center, Bnei Brak, Israel (E. Somekh)
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26
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Milić S, Marić N. Concerns and mental health of teachers from digitally underdeveloped countries regarding the reopening of schools after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 2021; 71:53-64. [PMID: 34924427 DOI: 10.3233/wor-210885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Torn between the decision to return to school classrooms or continue holding online classes during COVID-19, teachers around the world feel great uncertainty. OBJECTIVE Bearing in mind that the study of mental health during the pandemic is of great importance for vulnerable categories, and given the role of teachers in society, the aim of this research is to assess teachers' concerns and anxiety before the start of the school year, and also to examine the factors related to them and propose measures in line with the results. METHODS The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study before the start of the 2020/2021 school year. The research sample consisted of 286 teachers. For the purposes of this research, a special questionnaire was constructed consisting of a general questionnaire and a Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). RESULTS The strongest predictor of a teacher's answer that they were concerned about the reopening of schools was their concern for their own life and health and for the life and health of their family members, followed by the amount of information received about COVID-19, and, finally, older age. Only 2% of teachers had mild anxiety. CONCLUSIONS This research indicated that it is necessary to examine in more detail the degree of teachers' concern and its impact on their functionality and work process. It is also necessary to repeat the research on the mental health status of teachers and implement procedures in the form of a regular screening program of the mental health status of teachers or implement procedures of support in concern management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Milić
- Faculty of Education, University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nada Marić
- Institute of Occupational Health and Sports Medicine of the Republic of Srpska - Center Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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27
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Metcalf CJE, Andriamandimby SF, Baker RE, Glennon EE, Hampson K, Hollingsworth TD, Klepac P, Wesolowski A. Challenges in evaluating risks and policy options around endemic establishment or elimination of novel pathogens. Epidemics 2021; 37:100507. [PMID: 34823222 PMCID: PMC7612525 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2021.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
When a novel pathogen emerges there may be opportunities to eliminate transmission - locally or globally - whilst case numbers are low. However, the effort required to push a disease to elimination may come at a vast cost at a time when uncertainty is high. Models currently inform policy discussions on this question, but there are a number of open challenges, particularly given unknown aspects of the pathogen biology, the effectiveness and feasibility of interventions, and the intersecting political, economic, sociological and behavioural complexities for a novel pathogen. In this overview, we detail how models might identify directions for better leveraging or expanding the scope of data available on the pathogen trajectory, for bounding the theoretical context of emergence relative to prospects for elimination, and for framing the larger economic, behavioural and social context that will influence policy decisions and the pathogen’s outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jessica E Metcalf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, USA.
| | | | - Rachel E Baker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA; Princeton High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Emma E Glennon
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Katie Hampson
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - T Deirdre Hollingsworth
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Petra Klepac
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Head JR, Andrejko KL, Remais JV. Model-based assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission dynamics within partially vaccinated K-12 school populations. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2021; 5:100133. [PMID: 34849504 PMCID: PMC8614621 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2021.100133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined school reopening policies amidst ongoing transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant, accounting for vaccination among individuals ≥12 years. METHODS We collected data on social contacts among school-aged children in the California Bay Area and developed an individual-based transmission model to simulate transmission of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in schools. We evaluated the additional infections in students and teachers/staff resulting over a 128-day semester from in-school instruction compared to remote instruction when various NPIs (mask use, cohorts, and weekly testing of students/teachers) were implemented, across various community-wide vaccination coverages (50%, 60%, 70%), and student (≥12 years) and teacher/staff vaccination coverages (50% - 95%). FINDINGS At 70% vaccination coverage, universal masking reduced infections by >57% among students. Masking plus 70% vaccination coverage enabled achievement of <50 excess cases per 1,000 students/teachers, but stricter risk tolerances, such as <25 excess infections per 1,000 students/teachers, required a cohort approach in elementary and middle school populations. In the absence of NPIs, increasing the vaccination coverage of community members from 50% to 70% or elementary teachers from 70% to 95% reduced the excess rate of infection among elementary school students attributable to school transmission by 24% and 37%, respectively. INTERPRETATIONS Amidst Delta variant circulation, we found that schools are not inherently low risk, yet can be made so with high community vaccination coverages and masking. Vaccination of adults protects unvaccinated children. FUNDING National Science Foundation grant no. 2032210; National Institutes of Health grant nos. R01AI125842 and R01AI148336; MIDAS Coordination Center (MIDASSUP2020-4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R. Head
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kristin L. Andrejko
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Justin V. Remais
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA,Corresponding author: Justin V. Remais, Ph.D., 2121 Berkeley Way West #5301, Berkeley, CA 94720
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29
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Alishaq M, Jeremijenko A, Nafady-Hego H, Al Ajmi JA, Elgendy M, Thomas AG, Coyle PV, Elgendy H, Abou-Samra AB, Butt AA. SARS-CoV-2 PCR and antibody positivity among school staff at the beginning and end of the first school term. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2070. [PMID: 34763694 PMCID: PMC8582235 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12134-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is controversy regarding the role of in-person attendance in schools and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Several studies have demonstrated no increase in transmission, while some have reported large outbreaks with in-person attendance. We determined the incidence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among school staff after one school term. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and blood for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing were obtained from staff at a large international school in Qatar at the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year and repeated at the end of the first term. Results A total of 376 staff provided samples for testing. At the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year, the PCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2 was 13%, while seropositivity was 30.1%. A majority of those who tested positive either by PCR or serologically, were non-teaching staff. At the end of the first school term four months later, only 3.5% of the initially antibody-negative staff had seroconverted. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, male gender (OR 11.48, 95%CI 4.77–27.64), non-teaching job category (OR 3.09, 95%CI 1.10–8.64), contact with a confirmed case (OR 20.81, 95%CI 2.90–149.18), and presence of symptoms in the preceding 2 weeks [1–2 symptoms OR 4.82, 95%CI 1.79–12.94); ≥3 symptoms OR 42.30, 95%CI 3.76–476.43) independently predicted SARS-CoV-2 infection in school staff before school starting. Conclusion Male gender, non-teaching job, presence of symptoms, and exposure to a confirmed case were associated with higher risk of infection. These data can help policymakers in determining the optimal strategy for school reopening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moza Alishaq
- Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Hanaa Nafady-Hego
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed Elgendy
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sains of Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Hamed Elgendy
- Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Medicine and Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Anesthesia Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra
- Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Medicine and Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adeel A Butt
- Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. .,Department of Medicine and Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. .,Anesthesia Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. .,Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
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Room HVAC Influences on the Removal of Airborne Particulate Matter: Implications for School Reopening during the COVID-19 Pandemic. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14227463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Many schools and higher education settings have confronted the issue of reopening their facilities after the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, several airflow strategies spanning from adding portable air purifiers to major mechanical overhauls have been suggested to equip classrooms with what is necessary to provide a safe and reliable environment. Yet, there are many unknowns about specific contributions of the building system and its design and performance on indoor air quality (IAQ) improvements. (2) Methods: this study examined the combined effect of ventilation type, airflow rates, and filtration on IAQ in five different classrooms. Experiments were conducted by releasing inert surrogate particles into the classrooms and measuring the concentrations in various locations of the room. (3) Results: we showed that while the distribution of particles in the space is a complex function of space geometry and air distribution configurations, the average decay rate of contaminants is proportional to the number of air changes per hour in the room. (4) Conclusions: rooms with a central HVAC system responded quicker to an internal source of contamination than rooms with only fan coil units. Furthermore, increasing the ventilation rate without improved filtration is an inefficient use of energy.
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Karki SJ, Joachim A, Heinsohn T, Lange B. Risk of infection and contribution to transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in school staff: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052690. [PMID: 34732489 PMCID: PMC8572358 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarise the comparative risk of infection in school staff and their contribution to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. DESIGN Systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, WHO COVID-19 database and preView were searched on 29 January 2021. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We included studies that reported risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school staff or transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in school settings. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Data extraction was done in duplicates. Data synthesis was qualitative. We report attack rates and infection risk in school settings for staff and students stratified by control measures taken and infection dynamics at the point of data collection. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included. Three studies in low incidence settings showed low attack rates similar for teachers and students. Five studies in medium incidence settings and two studies in high incidence settings showed secondary attack rates up to 16% in school staff.Seroprevalence studies, two in each low and high incidence settings showed an infection risk of 0%-0.2% and 1.7%-28% for teachers.The risk of infection for teachers compared with students were similar in one study in low incidence setting, higher in three studies (RR 1.2-4.4) and lower in three studies in medium to high incidence settings. The risk of infection for teachers in a high infection environment is higher in face-to-face than in distance classes when compared with general population groups. The risk of infections as well as risk of hospitalisation both increased for teachers during school openings compared with school closure. CONCLUSION While in low incidence settings there is little evidence for school staff to be at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, in high incidence settings there is an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school staff teaching face-to-face compared to staff teaching digitally and general population. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021239225.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Jung Karki
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Alexandar Joachim
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Torben Heinsohn
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Berit Lange
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
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32
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O’Leary G, Schnake-Mahl AS, Vaidya V, Bilal U, Kolker J. Indoor Dining and In-Person Learning: A Comparison of 30 US Cities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10967. [PMID: 34682712 PMCID: PMC8535569 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
With limited US federal leadership on closing and re-opening strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, cities and states were left to enact their own policies. This article examines two key sets of policies-in-person learning in public elementary schools and indoor dining-across 30 of the largest US cities in the summer, fall, and winter of 2020. We review indoor dining and in-person elementary education policy decisions between 1 May 2020 and 14 December 2020 across 30 US cities. We review the public health evidence, political power, and jurisdictional challenges that cities faced, and the policy implications of these factors. Overwhelmingly, indoor dining re-opened in cities while in-person elementary schools were kept closed; indoor dining re-opened in all cities in fall 2020, while only 40% of public elementary schools re-opened for in-person instruction. Looking ahead to fully bringing students back for in-person learning, and considering future potential community outbreaks, this retrospective analysis can help inform city and state governments on policy decisions around indoor dining and reopening/closing schools for in-person learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella O’Leary
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (G.O.); (J.K.)
- Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.V.); (U.B.)
| | - Alina S. Schnake-Mahl
- Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.V.); (U.B.)
| | - Vaishnavi Vaidya
- Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.V.); (U.B.)
| | - Usama Bilal
- Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.V.); (U.B.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennifer Kolker
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (G.O.); (J.K.)
- Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.V.); (U.B.)
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Levinson M, Geller AC, Allen JG. Health Equity, Schooling Hesitancy, and the Social Determinants of Learning. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2021; 2:100032. [PMID: 36588583 PMCID: PMC9790768 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2021.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
At least 62 million K-12 students in North America-disproportionately low-income children of color- have been physically out of school for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These children are at risk of significant academic, social, mental, and physical harm now and in the long-term. We review the literature about school safety and the conditions that shape families' and teachers' choices to return to in-person schooling. We identify four causes of schooling hesitancy in the U.S. even where schools can be safely reopened: high community transmission rates; the politicization of school re-openings; long-term racialized disinvestment in urban districts; and parents' rational calculations about their family's vulnerability due to the social determinants of health. Given the deep interconnections between the social determinants of health and of learning, and between schooling hesitancy and community vulnerability, stark inequities in in-person schooling access and take-up are likely to persist. We recommend that school districts invest in scientifically-based facilities upgrades, increased nursing and counseling staffing, and preparation for schools to serve as pediatric vaccination sites. School districts should also apply lessons from public health about addressing vaccine hesitancy to the challenge of schooling hesitancy by investing time in humble listening to parents and teachers about their concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meira Levinson
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Massachusetts, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Alan C. Geller
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph G. Allen
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts, USA
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Student Pharmacists during the Pandemic: Development of a COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (COVKAP) Survey. PHARMACY 2021; 9:pharmacy9040159. [PMID: 34698271 PMCID: PMC8544658 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy9040159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused innumerable changes to all aspects of human life and behavior, including academic life. This study describes the development of a COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (COVKAP) Survey among U.S. student pharmacists. The survey was administered at Doctor of Pharmacy programs in three states—Tennessee, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Methods: The COVKAP survey—an online cross-sectional survey—was distributed to U.S. student pharmacists enrolled in three different colleges of pharmacy in three states during the fall semester of 2020. The survey was developed using literature review and Dillman’s recommendations for survey design. The COVKAP survey consisted of 23 closed and Likert-scale questions, and three open-ended questions. The research team conducted descriptive and inductive thematic analyses on the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively using SPSS (v27) and Dedoose® software. Results: A total of 421 responses were received. Respondents were predominantly female (72%) and White (79%). The average age of respondents was 23.4 years. The qualitative analysis revealed three themes: (1) Wellbeing and mental health struggles; (2) Being part of the decision-making process; (3) Necessity of adequate protection measures. Conclusions: Preliminary study findings indicate that student pharmacists’ concerns and the challenges that they face in their academic pursuits are largely similar across the three states in this study and inform about the importance of recognizing and mitigating the impact of widespread disruption in education. This disruption provides an opportunity for pharmacy academia to examine practices and methods that can be improved upon to help students become successful practitioners.
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Koirala A, Goldfeld S, Bowen AC, Choong C, Ryan K, Wood N, Winkler N, Danchin M, Macartney K, Russell FM. Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic: Why Australian schools should be prioritised to stay open. J Paediatr Child Health 2021; 57:1362-1369. [PMID: 34101922 PMCID: PMC8242752 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.15588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In 2020, school and early childhood educational centre (ECEC) closures affected over 1.5 billion school-aged children globally as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Attendance at school and access to ECEC is critical to a child's learning, well-being and health. School closures increase inequities by disproportionately affecting vulnerable children. Here, we summarise the role of children and adolescents in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and that of schools and ECECs in community transmission and describe the Australian experience. In Australia, most SARS-CoV-2 cases in schools were solitary (77% in NSW and 67% in Victoria); of those that did progress to an outbreak, >90% involved fewer than 10 cases. Australian and global experience has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is predominantly introduced into schools and ECECs during periods of heightened community transmission. Implementation of public health mitigation strategies, including effective testing, tracing and isolation of contacts, means schools and ECECs can be safe, not drivers of transmission. Schools and ECEC are essential services and so they should be prioritised to stay open for face-to-face learning. This is particularly critical as we continue to manage the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Koirala
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals NetworkWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia,School of Child and Adolescent HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia,Department of Infectious Diseases, Nepean HospitalKingswoodNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sharon Goldfeld
- Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Department of PaediatricsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Asha C Bowen
- Department of Infectious DiseasesPerth Children's HospitalNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia,Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids InstituteNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia,School of Medicine, The University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia,Centre for Child Health ResearchThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia,Menzies School of Health ResearchCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia,Institute for Health ResearchThe University of Notre Dame AustraliaFremantleWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Catherine Choong
- School of Medicine, The University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia,Menzies School of Health ResearchCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia,Department of Endocrinology, Perth Children's HospitalNedlandsWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Kathleen Ryan
- Population Health, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nicholas Wood
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals NetworkWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia,School of Child and Adolescent HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia,Department of Paediatrics, The Children's Hospital at WestmeadWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Noni Winkler
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals NetworkWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia,National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population HealthAustralian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capitol TerritoryAustralia
| | - Margie Danchin
- Department of PaediatricsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Infection and Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Kristine Macartney
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Kids Research, Sydney Children's Hospitals NetworkWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia,School of Child and Adolescent HealthUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at WestmeadWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Fiona M Russell
- Department of PaediatricsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia,Infection and Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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Joachim A, Dewald F, Suárez I, Zemlin M, Lang I, Stutz R, Marthaler A, Bosse HM, Lübke N, Münch J, Bernard MA, Jeltsch K, Tönshoff B, Weidner N, Kräusslich HG, Birzele L, Hübner J, Schmied P, Meyer-Bühn M, Horemheb-Rubio G, Cornely OA, Haverkamp H, Wiesmüller G, Fätkenheuer G, Hero B, Kaiser R, Dötsch J, Rybniker J. Pooled RT-qPCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in schools - a cluster randomised trial. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 39:101082. [PMID: 34458708 PMCID: PMC8384501 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extent to which children and adolescents contribute to SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains not fully understood. Novel high-capacity testing methods may provide real-time epidemiological data in educational settings helping to establish a rational approach to prevent and minimize SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We investigated whether pooling of samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR is a sensitive and feasible high-capacity diagnostic strategy for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in schools. METHODS In this study, students and school staff of 14 educational facilities in Germany were tested sequentially between November 9 and December 23, 2020, two or three times per week for at least three consecutive weeks. Participants were randomized for evaluation of two different age adjusted swab sampling methods (oropharyngeal swabs or buccal swabs compared to saliva swabs using a 'lolli method'). Swabs were collected and pooled for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR. Individuals of positive pooled tests were retested by RT-qPCR the same or the following day. Positive individuals were quarantined while the SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals remained in class with continued pooled RT-qPCR surveillance. The study is registered with the German Clinical Trials register (registration number: DRKS00023911). FINDINGS 5,537 individuals were eligible and 3970 participants were enroled and included in the analysis. In students, a total of 21,978 swabs were taken and combined in 2218 pooled RT-qPCR tests. We detected 41 positive pooled tests (1·8%) leading to 36 SARS-CoV-2 cases among students which could be identified by individual re-testing. The cumulative 3-week incidence for primary schools was 564/100,000 (6/1064, additionally 1 infection detected in week 4) and 1249/100,000 (29/2322) for secondary schools. In secondary schools, there was no difference in the number of SARS-CoV-2 positive students identified from pooled oropharyngeal swabs compared to those identified from pooled saliva samples (lolli method) (14 vs. 15 cases; 1·3% vs. 1·3%; OR 1.1; 95%-CI 0·5-2·5). A single secondary school accounted for 17 of 36 cases (47%) indicating a high burden of asymptomatic prevalent SARS-CoV-2 cases in the respective school and community. INTERPRETATION In educational settings, SARS-CoV-2 screening by RT-qPCR-based pooled testing with easily obtainable saliva samples is a feasible method to detect incident cases and observe transmission dynamics. FUNDING Federal Ministry of education and research (BMBF; Project B-FAST in "NaFoUniMedCovid19"; registration number: 01KX2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Joachim
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Felix Dewald
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Isabelle Suárez
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Zemlin
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Homburg, Homburg, Germany
| | - Isabelle Lang
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Homburg, Homburg, Germany
| | - Regine Stutz
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Homburg, Homburg, Germany
| | - Anna Marthaler
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Homburg, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hans Martin Bosse
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children´s Hospital, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nadine Lübke
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Juliane Münch
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children´s Hospital, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marie-Annett Bernard
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jeltsch
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Tönshoff
- Department of Pediatrics I, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Niklas Weidner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Kräusslich
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Birzele
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Hübner
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Patricia Schmied
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Melanie Meyer-Bühn
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Gibran Horemheb-Rubio
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver A Cornely
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Heinz Haverkamp
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerhard Wiesmüller
- Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniclinic RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gerd Fätkenheuer
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Barbara Hero
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rolf Kaiser
- Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Dötsch
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Rybniker
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Aiano F, Jones SEI, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Flood J, Okike I, Brent A, Brent B, Beckmann J, Garstang J, Ahmad S, Baawuah F, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN. Feasibility and acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 testing and surveillance in primary school children in England: Prospective, cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255517. [PMID: 34449784 PMCID: PMC8396768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about widespread infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in educational settings. In June 2020, Public Health England (PHE) initiated prospective national surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in primary schools across England (sKIDs). We used this opportunity to assess the feasibility and agreeability of large-scale surveillance and testing for SARS-CoV-2 infections in school among staff, parents and students. METHODS Staff and students in 131 primary schools were asked to complete a questionnaire at recruitment and provide weekly nasal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing (n = 86) or swabs with blood samples for antibody testing (n = 45) at the beginning and end the summer half-term. In six blood sampling schools, students were asked to complete a pictorial questionnaire before and after their investigations. RESULTS In total, 135 children aged 4-7 years (n = 40) or 8-11 years (n = 95) completed the pictorial questionnaire fully or partially. Prior to sampling, oral fluid sampling was the most acceptable test (107/132, 81%) followed by throat swabs (80/134, 59%), nose swabs (77/132, 58%), and blood tests (48/130, 37%). Younger students were more nervous about all tests than older students but, after completing their tests, most children reported a "better than expected" experience with all the investigations. Students were more likely to agree to additional testing for nose swabs (93/113, 82%) and oral fluid (93/114, 82%), followed by throat swabs (85/113, 75%) and blood tests (72/108, 67%). Parents (n = 3,994) and staff (n = 2,580) selected a preference for weekly testing with nose swabs, throat swabs or oral fluid sampling, although staff were more flexible about testing frequency. CONCLUSIONS Primary school staff and parents were supportive of regular tests for SARS-CoV-2 and selected a preference for weekly testing. Children preferred nose swabs and oral fluids over throat swabs or blood sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ifeanyichukwu Okike
- Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Brent
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
- University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Bernadette Brent
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
- University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Beckmann
- Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Garstang
- Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Aston, United Kingdom
| | - Shazaad Ahmad
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Shamez N. Ladhani
- Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Head JR, Andrejko KL, Remais JV. Model-based assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission dynamics within partially vaccinated K-12 school populations. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.08.20.21262389. [PMID: 34462757 PMCID: PMC8404896 DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.20.21262389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined school reopening policies amidst rising transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant, accounting for vaccination among individuals aged 12 years and older, with the goal of characterizing risk to students and teachers under various within-school non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) combined with specific vaccination coverage levels. METHODS We developed an individual-based transmission model to simulate transmission of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 among a synthetic population, representative of Bay Area cities. We parameterized the model using community contact rates from vaccinated households ascertained from a household survey of Bay Area families with children conducted between February - April, 2021. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES We evaluated the additional infections in students and teachers/staff resulting over a 128-day semester from in-school instruction compared to remote instruction when various NPIs (mask use, cohorts, and weekly testing of students/teachers) were implemented in schools, across various community-wide vaccination coverages (50%, 60%, 70%), and student (≥12 years) and teacher/staff vaccination coverages (50% - 95%). We quantified the added benefit of universal masking over masking among unvaccinated students and teachers, across varying levels of vaccine effectiveness (45%, 65%, 85%), and compared results between Delta and Alpha variant circulation. RESULTS The Delta variant sharply increases the risk of within-school COVID-transmission when compared to the Alpha variant. In our highest risk scenario (50% community and within-school vaccine coverage, no within-school NPIs, and predominant circulation of the Delta variant), we estimated that an elementary school could see 33-65 additional symptomatic cases of COVID-19 over a four-month semester (depending on the relative susceptibility of children <10 years). In contrast, under the Bay Area reopening plan (universal mask use, community and school vaccination coverage of 70%), we estimated excess symptomatic infection attributable to school reopening among 2.0-9.7% of elementary students (8-36 excess symptomatic cases per school over the semester), 3.0% of middle school students (13 cases per school) and 0.4% of high school students (3 cases per school). Excess rates among teachers attributable to reopening were similar. Achievement of lower risk tolerances, such as <5 excess infections per 1,000 students or teachers, required a cohort approach in elementary and middle school populations. In the absence of NPIs, increasing the vaccination coverage of community members from 50% to 70% or elementary teachers from 70% to 95% reduced the estimated excess rate of infection among elementary school students attributable to school transmission by 24% and 41%, respectively. We estimated that with 70% coverage of the eligible community and school population with a vaccine that is ≤65% effective, universal masking can avert more cases than masking of unvaccinated persons alone. CONCLUSIONS Amidst circulation of the Delta variant, our findings demonstrated that schools are not inherently low risk, yet can be made so with high community vaccination coverages and universal masking. Vaccination of adult community members and teachers protects unvaccinated elementary and middle school children. Elementary and middle schools that can support additional interventions, such as cohorts and testing, should consider doing so, particularly if additional studies find that younger children are equally as susceptible as adults to the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. LIMITATIONS We did not consider the effect of social distancing in classrooms, or variation in testing frequency, and considerable uncertainty remains in key transmission parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R. Head
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Kristin L. Andrejko
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Justin V. Remais
- Center for Computational Biology, College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
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Enabling Readiness of a School to Reopen during a Pandemic - A Field Experience. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 16:2129-2133. [PMID: 34384516 PMCID: PMC8458860 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Modeling studies indicate that the closure of schools during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may not be well grounded for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as evidences indicate that children are less affected by this virus, and the clinical attack rates in the 0–19 age group are low. Experts also opine that school closures might have negative effects on the scholastic abilities of children and also an adverse impact on the economy and health care system, considering the responsibilities conferred upon the parents. Also, in a developing country like India, it is difficult for the rural population to afford distance online learning, which brings into importance the reopening of schools in a safe environment to avoid adversities such as increased drop-outs in the upcoming academic year, loss of in-person benefits such as mid-day meal scheme. This study highlights a field experience in relation to readiness assessment of a rural school in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India, for a safe reopening to accept students in a safe and conducive atmosphere, which shall help prevent transmission of the virus in the schools among the children. In this regard, an indigenous readiness checklist has been developed to achieve the purpose, which assesses the readiness in 3 domains: (1) procedural readiness; (2) supplies, sanitation, and infrastructure-related; and (3) education and training.
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Budaev S. Safety and Reverence: How Roman Catholic Liturgy Can Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2021; 60:2331-2352. [PMID: 34031781 PMCID: PMC8143074 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01282-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for many religious denominations. The Roman Catholic Church strongly depends on physical communal worship and sacraments. Disagreements grow concerning the best balance between safety and piety. To address this issue, I review the major transmission risks for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and list certain measures to enhance the safety of the Roman Catholic Liturgy without compromising its intrinsic beauty and reverent spiritual attitude. This can be achieved through assimilation of several traditional elements into the modern liturgy. I emphasize that religious leadership and decision-making should be transparent and based on inclusiveness, pluralism, best scientific evidence and voluntary cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Budaev
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Postboks 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
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Tan W. School closures were over-weighted against the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission: A literature review on the impact of school closures in the United States. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e26709. [PMID: 34397701 PMCID: PMC8322504 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000026709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread wildly across the world. In March of 2020, almost all kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) schools were closed in the United States in an urgent attempt to curb the pandemic in the absence of effective therapeutics or vaccination. Thirteen months since then, schools remain partially closed. Accumulated evidence suggests that children and adolescents are not the primary facilitators of transmission, limiting the restrictive effects of school closures on disease transmission. The negative effects of school closures on K-12 students need to be systematically reviewed. METHODS Following the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyzes, a comprehensive literature search from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science regarding school closures and its impact on K-12 students was conducted. The primary outcomes included the impact of school closures on the mitigation of the pandemic and the resulting public health concerns of K-12 students. RESULTS Prolonged school closures possessed negative effects on K-12 students' physical, mental, and social well-being and reduced the number of health and social workers, hindering the reopening of the country. CONCLUSIONS School closures were over-weighted against the mitigation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. A safe reopening of all K-12 schools in the United States should be of top priority.
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Irfan O, Li J, Tang K, Wang Z, Bhutta ZA. Risk of infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among children and adolescents in households, communities and educational settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health 2021; 11:05013. [PMID: 34326997 PMCID: PMC8285769 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.05013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is uncertainty with respect to SARS-CoV-2 transmission in children (0-19 years) with controversy on effectiveness of school-closures in controlling the pandemic. It is of equal importance to evaluate the risk of transmission in children who are often asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic carriers that may incidentally transmit SARS-CoV-2 in different settings. We conducted this review to assess transmission and risks for SARS-CoV-2 in children (by age-groups or grades) in community and educational-settings compared to adults. METHODS Data for the review were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, WHO COVID-19 Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Database, WanFang Database, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Google Scholar, and preprints from medRixv and bioRixv) covering a timeline from December 1, 2019 to April 1, 2021. Population-screening, contact-tracing and cohort studies reporting prevalence and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children were included. Data were extracted according to PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS Ninety studies were included. Compared to adults, children showed comparable national (risk ratio (RR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71-1.060 and subnational (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.66-1.01) prevalence in population-screening studies, and lower odds of infection in community/household contact-tracing studies (odds ratio (OR) = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.46-0.84). On disaggregation, adolescents observed comparable risk (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.74-2.04) with adults. In educational-settings, children attending daycare/preschools (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.38-0.72) were observed to be at lower-risk when compared to adults, with odds of infection among primary (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.55-1.31) and high-schoolers (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.71-2.38) comparable to adults. Overall, children and adolescents had lower odds of infection in educational-settings compared to community and household clusters. CONCLUSIONS Children (<10 years) showed lower susceptibility to COVID-19 compared to adults, whereas adolescents in communities and high-schoolers had comparable risk. Risks of infection among children in educational-settings was lower than in communities. Evidence from school-based studies demonstrate it is largely safe for children (<10 years) to be at schools, however older children (10-19 years) might facilitate transmission. Despite this evidence, studies focusing on the effectiveness of mitigation measures in educational settings are urgently needed to support both public health and educational policy-making for school reopening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Irfan
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jiang Li
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kun Tang
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Institute for Global Health & Development, the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Kickbusch I, Leung GM, Shattock RJ. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Lancet 2021; 398:e2-e6. [PMID: 34217403 PMCID: PMC8248923 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00665-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Kickbusch
- Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel M Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Ladhani SN, Ireland G, Baawuah F, Beckmann J, Okike IO, Ahmad S, Garstang J, Brent AJ, Brent B, Walker J, Aiano F, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Letley L, Flood J, Jones SEI, Kall M, Borrow R, Linley E, Zambon M, Poh J, Lackenby A, Ellis J, Amirthalingam G, Brown KE, Ramsay ME. SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody positivity and seroconversion rates in staff and students following full reopening of secondary schools in England: A prospective cohort study, September-December 2020. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 37:100948. [PMID: 34386740 PMCID: PMC8343251 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older children have higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates than younger children. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection, seroprevalence and seroconversion rates in staff and students following the full reopening of all secondary schools in England. METHODS Public Health England (PHE) invited secondary schools in six regions (East and West London, Hertfordshire, Derbyshire, Manchester and Birmingham) to participate in SARS-CoV-2 surveillance during the 2020/21 academic year. Participants had nasal swabs for RT-PCR and blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the beginning (September 2020) and end (December 2020) of the autumn term. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess independent risk factors for seropositivity and seroconversion. FINDINGS Eighteen schools in six regions enrolled 2,209 participants, including 1,189 (53.8%) students and 1,020 (46.2%) staff. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were not significantly different between students and staff in round one (5/948; [0.53%] vs. 2/876 [0.23%]; p = 0.46) or round two (10/948 [1.05%] vs. 7/886 [0.79%]; p = 0.63), and similar to national prevalence. None of four and 7/15 (47%) sequenced strains in rounds 1 and 2 were the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant. In round 1, antibody seropositivity was higher in students than staff (114/893 [12.8%] vs. 79/861 [9.2%]; p = 0.016), but similar in round 2 (117/893 [13.1%] vs.117/872 [13.3%]; p = 0.85), comparable to local community seroprevalence. Between the two rounds, 8.7% (57/652) staff and 6.6% (36/549) students seroconverted (p = 0.16). INTERPRETATION In secondary schools, SARS-CoV-2 infection, seropositivity and seroconversion rates were similar in staff and students, and comparable to local community rates. Ongoing surveillance will be important for monitoring the impact of new variants in educational settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamez N Ladhani
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St. George's University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Georgina Ireland
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Frances Baawuah
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Joanne Beckmann
- East London NHS Foundation Trust, 9 Allie Street, London E1 8DE, UK
| | - Ifeanyichukwu O Okike
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK, 201 London Road, Derby DE1 2TZ, UK
| | - Shazaad Ahmad
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Joanna Garstang
- Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Holt Street, Aston B7 4BN, UK
| | - Andrew J Brent
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7HE, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Bernadette Brent
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7HE, UK
| | - Jemma Walker
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Felicity Aiano
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Zahin Amin-Chowdhury
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Louise Letley
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Jessica Flood
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Samuel E I Jones
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Meaghan Kall
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Ezra Linley
- Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Maria Zambon
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - John Poh
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Angie Lackenby
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Joanna Ellis
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Gayatri Amirthalingam
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Kevin E Brown
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Mary E Ramsay
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
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Casini L, Roccetti M. Reopening Italy's schools in September 2020: a Bayesian estimation of the change in the growth rate of new SARS-CoV-2 cases. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e051458. [PMID: 34210737 PMCID: PMC8251679 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES COVID-19's second wave started a debate on the potential role of schools as a primary factor in the contagion resurgence. Two opposite positions appeared: those convinced that schools played a major role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 infections and those who were not. We studied the growth rate of the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in all the Italian regions, before and after the school reopening (September-October 2020), investigating the hypothesis of an association between schools and the resurgence of the virus. METHODS Using a Bayesian piecewise linear regression to scrutinise the number of daily SARS-CoV-2 infections in each region, we looked for an estimate of a changepoint in the growth rate of those confirmed cases. We compared the changepoints with the school opening dates, for each Italian region. The regression allows to discuss the change in steepness of the infection curve, before and after the changepoint. RESULTS In 15 out of 21 Italian regions (71%), an estimated change in the rate of growth of the total number of daily SARS-CoV-2 infection cases occurred after an average of 16.66 days (95% CI 14.47 to 18.73) since the school reopening. The number of days required for the SARS-CoV-2 daily cases to double went from an average of 47.50 days (95% CI 37.18 to 57.61) before the changepoint to an average of 7.72 days (95% CI 7.00 to 8.48) after it. CONCLUSION Studying the rate of growth of daily SARS-CoV-2 cases in all the regions provides some evidence in favour of a link between school reopening and the resurgence of the virus. The number of factors that could have played a role is too many to give a definitive answer. Still, the temporal correspondence warrants further systematic experiments to investigate on potential confounders that could clarify how much reopening schools mattered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Casini
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Roccetti
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Callaway-Cole L, Kimble A. Maintaining Professional Standards in Early Childhood Teacher Preparation: Evaluating Adaptations to Fieldwork-Based Experiences During COVID-19. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION JOURNAL 2021; 49:841-853. [PMID: 34177245 PMCID: PMC8215637 DOI: 10.1007/s10643-021-01227-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
At institutions striving to maintain face-to-face field placements and instruction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, circumstances changed daily in response to new developments at the university, local school districts, and personal circumstances. This mixed-methods study explored and evaluated the adaptations made to early childhood teacher preparation courses in an undergraduate program in order to provide relevant training through a variety of instructional modalities including face-to-face, virtual, hypothetical, and mixed reality. Focused on maintaining professional standards through adapted coursework designed to meet student learning outcomes, instructors reflected on multiple instructional modalities and analysis of demonstrable learning outcomes for students in a four-year bachelor's degree program resulting in state teacher certification. Data were collected from students from three different cohorts (n = 26) through course assignments, reflections, and instructor- and self-assessments. Results highlight several areas where students found success in meeting professional standards in new ways including: knowledge of development, relevant and responsive curriculum, collaborative engagement, cultural and familial knowledge, inclusive and individualized design, and flexibility and adaptability. Students were prepared to teach in the following ways: designing curriculum, implementation, and reflective practice. Students felt unprepared to teach citing needing more practice and continued skills development. These findings highlight the need for flexibility in the face of the pandemic and underscore the importance of using the new knowledge and practices generated about student learning to reinvent early childhood teacher education programs when faced with post-pandemic realities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Callaway-Cole
- Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, 233 Nancy Randolph Davis, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
| | - Ashley Kimble
- Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, 233 Nancy Randolph Davis, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
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Fang FC, Benson CA, del Rio C, Edwards KM, Fowler VG, Fredricks DN, Limaye AP, Murray BE, Naggie S, Pappas PG, Patel R, Paterson DL, Pegues DA, Petri WA, Schooley RT. COVID-19-Lessons Learned and Questions Remaining. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:2225-2240. [PMID: 33104186 PMCID: PMC7797746 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this article, the editors of Clinical Infectious Diseases review some of the most important lessons they have learned about the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify essential questions about COVID-19 that remain to be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferric C Fang
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology, and Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Constance A Benson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Carlos del Rio
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Kathryn M Edwards
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Vance G Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - David N Fredricks
- Department of Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Ajit P Limaye
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology, and Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Barbara E Murray
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Susanna Naggie
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Peter G Pappas
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Robin Patel
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - David L Paterson
- Department of Medicine, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, QLD Australia
| | - David A Pegues
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - William A Petri
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA USA
| | - Robert T Schooley
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA USA
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Hoch M, Vogel S, Kolberg L, Dick E, Fingerle V, Eberle U, Ackermann N, Sing A, Huebner J, Rack-Hoch A, Schober T, von Both U. Weekly SARS-CoV-2 Sentinel Surveillance in Primary Schools, Kindergartens, and Nurseries, Germany, June‒November 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2192-2196. [PMID: 34087088 PMCID: PMC8314813 DOI: 10.3201/eid2708.204859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in primary schools, kindergartens, and nurseries in Germany. Of 3,169 oropharyngeal swab specimens, only 2 were positive by real-time reverse transcription PCR. Asymptomatic children attending these institutions do not appear to be driving the pandemic when appropriate infection control measures are used.
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White A, Liburd LC, Coronado F. Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Among School-Aged Children: Are We Doing Enough? Prev Chronic Dis 2021; 18:E55. [PMID: 34081577 PMCID: PMC8220967 DOI: 10.5888/pcd18.210084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and associated disparities among Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native children and teenagers has been documented. Reducing these disparities along with overcoming unintended negative consequences of the pandemic, such as the disruption of in-person schooling, calls for broad community-based collaborations and nuanced approaches. Based on national survey data, children from some racial and ethnic minority groups have a higher prevalence of obesity, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension; were diagnosed more frequently with COVID-19; and had more severe outcomes compared with their non-Hispanic White (NHW) counterparts. Furthermore, a higher proportion of children from some racial and ethnic minority groups lived in families with incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level or in households lacking secure employment compared with NHW children. Children from some racial and ethnic minority groups were also more likely to attend school via online learning compared with NHW counterparts. Because the root causes of these disparities are complex and multifactorial, an organized community-based approach is needed to achieve greater proactive and sustained collaborations between local health departments, local school systems, and other public and private organizations to pursue health equity. This article provides a summary of potential community-based health promotion strategies to address racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and educational inequities among children and teens, specifically in the implementation of strategic partnerships, including initial collective work, outcomes-based activities, and communication. These collaborations can facilitate policy, systems, and environmental changes in school systems that support emergency preparedness, recovery, and resilience when faced with public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arica White
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.,Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS S107-4, Atlanta GA, 30341.
| | - Leandris C Liburd
- COVID-19 Response, Chief Health Equity Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Fátima Coronado
- Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Banholzer N, van Weenen E, Lison A, Cenedese A, Seeliger A, Kratzwald B, Tschernutter D, Salles JP, Bottrighi P, Lehtinen S, Feuerriegel S, Vach W. Estimating the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the number of new infections with COVID-19 during the first epidemic wave. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252827. [PMID: 34077448 PMCID: PMC8171941 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly developed into a global epidemic. To control its spread, countries have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as school closures, bans of small gatherings, or even stay-at-home orders. Here we study the effectiveness of seven NPIs in reducing the number of new infections, which was inferred from the reported cases of COVID-19 using a semi-mechanistic Bayesian hierarchical model. Based on data from the first epidemic wave of n = 20 countries (i.e., the United States, Canada, Australia, the EU-15 countries, Norway, and Switzerland), we estimate the relative reduction in the number of new infections attributed to each NPI. Among the NPIs considered, bans of large gatherings were most effective, followed by venue and school closures, whereas stay-at-home orders and work-from-home orders were least effective. With this retrospective cross-country analysis, we provide estimates regarding the effectiveness of different NPIs during the first epidemic wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Banholzer
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva van Weenen
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Lison
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alberto Cenedese
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arne Seeliger
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Kratzwald
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Tschernutter
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joan Puig Salles
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pierluigi Bottrighi
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Lehtinen
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Feuerriegel
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Werner Vach
- Basel Academy for Quality and Research in Medicine, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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