Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cluster Originating in a Primary School Teachers' Room in Japan.
Pediatr Infect Dis J
; 40(11): e418-e423, 2021 11 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1494050
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
School closures are a subject of debate during the present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because children are not the main driver of COVID-19 transmission in the community, school education must be prioritized in conjunction with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, as determined by local COVID-19 incidence.METHODS:
We investigated the causes and transmission routes of a primary school cluster of COVID-19 that occurred during November and December 2020 in Niigata, Japan.RESULTS:
In the cluster, the virus spread among teachers, then from teachers to students, and then to their family members. This primary school cluster comprised 26 infected patients and included teachers (13/33, 39%), students (9/211, 4%), and family members (4/65, 6%). The secondary attack rate from the 3 index teachers to the remaining 30 teachers was 33%; however, the rate to students was only 4%. Factors contributing to cluster formation include the fact that 2 of the index teachers continued working while symptomatic and that the environment and infection prevention measures in the teachers' room were inadequate.CONCLUSIONS:
To open schools safely and without interruption, adequate measures to prevent COVID-19 infection in schools should be emphasized not only for children but also for teachers and their environment.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Schools
/
Disease Outbreaks
/
School Teachers
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Pediatr Infect Dis J
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
Pediatrics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
INF.0000000000003292
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