Planning for the End at the Beginning: A Lesson in Sharing Research Findings of a Community-based COVID-19 Seroprevalence Survey (preprint)

IntroductionSharing research findings with participants is important but challenging. We evaluated a plan to share findings with participants of a COVID-19 seroprevalence project. MethodsAn electronic survey was distributed to participants after completion of the project to determine reach of planned coverage of the findings. ResultsMost respondents (80% n=428) had not seen the coverage; but nearly all (90%, n=388) wanted to see the findings. Participants identified a brief visual report as their preferred avenue. A second follow-up survey found that 99% of those who read the report approved. DiscussionWhen researchers alone create a plan to share project findings, efforts may not reach nor be in the format desired by participants. ConclusionsThis work can serve as a model for collaborating with community to disseminate public health data.

Modifications to student quarantine policies in K-12 schools implementing multiple COVID-19 prevention strategies restores in-person education without increasing SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk, January-March 2021 (preprint)

Objective : To determine whether modified K-12 student quarantine policies that allow some students to continue in-person education during their quarantine period increase schoolwide SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk following the increase in cases in winter 2020-2021. Methods : We conducted a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 cases and exposures among students and staff (n=65,621) in 103 Missouri public schools. Participants were offered free, saliva-based RT-PCR testing. An adjusted Cox regression model compared hazard rates of school-based SARS-CoV-2 infections between schools with a modified versus standard quarantine policy. Results : From January-March 2021, a projected 23 (1%) school-based transmission events occurred among 1,636 school close contacts. There was no difference in the adjusted hazard rates of school-based SARS-CoV-2 infections between schools with a modified versus standard quarantine policy (hazard ratio=1.00; 95% confidence interval: 0.97-1.03). Discussion : School-based SARS-CoV-2 transmission was rare in 103 K-12 schools implementing multiple COVID-19 prevention strategies. Modified student quarantine policies were not associated with increased school incidence of COVID-19. Modifications to student quarantine policies may be a useful strategy for K-12 schools to safely reduce disruptions to in-person education during times of increased COVID-19 community incidence.