Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Among Children in Summer Schools Applying Stringent Control Measures in Barcelona, Spain
Jordan, Iolanda; de Sevilla, Mariona Fernandez; Fumado, Victoria; Bassat, Quique; Bonet-Carne, Elisenda; Fortuny, Claudia; Garcia-Miquel, Aleix; Jou, Cristina; Adroher, Cristina; Casas, María Melé; Girona-Alarcon, Mònica; Garcia, María Hernández; Tomas, Gemma Pons; Ajanovic, Sara; Arias, Sara; Balanza, Núria; Baro, Bárbara; Millat-Martinez, Pere; Varo, Rosauro; Alonso, Sergio; Álvarez-Lacalle, Enric; López, Daniel; Claverol, Joana; Cubells, Marta; Brotons, Pedro; Codina, Anna; Cuadras, Daniel; Bruijning-Verhagen, Patricia; Faust, Saul; Munro, Alasdair; Muñoz-Almagro, Carmen; Català, Martí; Prats, Clara; Garcia-Garcia, Juan José; Gratacós, Eduard
(2022) Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, volume 74, issue 1, pp. 66 - 73
(Article)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of children in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is critical to guide decision-making for schools in the pandemic. We aimed to describe the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among children and adult staff in summer schools. METHODS: During July 2020, we prospectively recruited children and
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adult staff attending summer schools in Barcelona who had SARS-CoV-2 infection. Primary SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified through (1) a surveillance program in 22 summer schools of 1905 participants, involving weekly saliva sampling for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during 2-5 weeks; and (2) cases identified through the Catalonian Health Surveillance System of children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR. All centers followed prevention protocols: bubble groups, handwashing, face masks, and conducting activities mostly outdoors. Contacts of a primary case within the same bubble were evaluated by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR. Secondary attack rates and the effective reproduction number in summer schools (Re*) were calculated. RESULTS: Among the >2000 repeatedly screened participants, 30 children and 9 adults were identified as primary cases. A total of 253 close contacts of these primary cases were studied (median, 9 [interquartile range, 5-10] for each primary case), among which 12 new cases (4.7%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The Re* was 0.3, whereas the contemporary rate in the general population from the same areas in Barcelona was 1.9. CONCLUSIONS: The transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children attending school-like facilities under strict prevention measures was lower than that reported for the general population. This suggests that under preventive measures schools are unlikely amplifiers of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, supporting current recommendations for school opening.
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Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, children, transmission, Microbiology (medical), Infectious Diseases
ISSN: 1058-4838
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Note: Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
(Peer reviewed)