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Studies in the United States and abroad found little evidence that schools were spreading COVID-19 infections, showing a “way forward” toward face-to-face classes, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. the US Disease Prevention (CDC).
The risk of contracting COVID-19 in schools and whether to allow in-person learning or to continue with classes online has been a hot topic of debate in many countries, including the United States.
While there was some evidence of transmission at school, “the preponderance of the evidence available from the fall school semester has been reassuring,” the researchers said in an opinion piece in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network.
“As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US and internationally, school-related COVID-19 cases have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed significantly. increase community transmission, “said the CDC.
The authors pointed in part to a new CDC study of rural Wisconsin schools, where student wearing of masks was high. The incidence of COVID-19 in the 17 elementary and secondary schools was 37% lower than in the general community, with no school-acquired infections among staff members.
“Given the findings from our dataset, with the proper precautions such as distancing and covering your face, it appears that adult members of school staff are unlikely to contract COVID-19 in the classroom,” said study author Amy Falk. , of the Aspirus Hospitals and Clinics. he said in an emailed response.
CDC scientists at JAMA said school closings could affect academic progress, mental health and access to essential services.
They said mitigation measures such as the use of a universal mask, social distancing and ventilation were key to avoiding infection.
In the Wisconsin study, only seven of the 191 cases (3.7%) identified among 5,530 students and staff members during the period August 31 to November 29, 2020, were associated with transmission at school, all in students. , the researchers reported.
Social distancing was required and mask use was reported to be over 92%. Classes were held in stable cohorts and both lunch and classes were held indoors. However, there was no systematic screening for COVID-19 in schools or the community, and only a few teachers recorded student masks, according to the Wisconsin study, published in the Weekly Morbidity and Mortality of Children report. CDC.
The researchers found widespread transmission of the virus in the surrounding community during the study period, with 7% to 40% of Wood County’s COVID-19 tests showing positive results.
The incidence of COVID-19 among students and staff members in the study translated to 3,453 cases per 100,000 in schools compared to 5,466 per 100,000 in the general community.
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