tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Pediatrics
. 2022 Aug 16.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-058200. Online ahead of print.
Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools
Melissa M Campbell[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Daniel K Benjamin Jr[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Tara K Mann[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alex Fist[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ashley Blakemore[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kylee S Diaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hwasoon Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Laura J Edwards[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zsolt Rak[SUP] 1 [/SUP], M Alan Brookhart[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Zack Moore[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Ibukun Kalu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Angelique E Boutzoukas[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ganga S Moorthy[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Diya Uthappa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Zeni Scott[SUP] 2 [/SUP], David J Weber[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Andi L Shane[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Kristina A Bryant[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Kanecia O Zimmerman[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: We evaluated the impact of a test-to-stay (TTS) program on within-school transmission and missed school days in optionally masked kindergarten through 12th grade schools during a period of high community severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission.
Methods: Close contacts of those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were eligible for enrollment in the TTS program if exposure to a non-household contact occurred between 11/29/2021 and 01/28/2022. Consented participants avoided school exclusion if they remained asymptomatic and rapid antigen testing at pre-specified intervals remained negative. Primary outcomes included within-school tertiary attack rate (test positivity among close contacts of positive TTS participants) and school days saved among TTS participants. We estimated the number of additional school-acquired cases resulting from TTS and eliminating school exclusion.
Results: A total of 1675 participants tested positive or received at least one negative test between days 5 and 7, and completed follow-up; 92% were students and 91% were exposed to an unmasked primary case. We identified 201 positive cases. We observed a tertiary attack rate of 10% (95% CI 6-19%) and 7,272 (89%) of potentially missed days were saved through TTS implementation. We estimated one additional school-acquired case for every 21 TTS participants remaining in school buildings during the entire study period.
Conclusions: Even in the setting of high community transmission, a TTS strategy resulted in substantial reduction in missed school days in optionally masked schools.
. 2022 Aug 16.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-058200. Online ahead of print.
Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools
Melissa M Campbell[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Daniel K Benjamin Jr[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Tara K Mann[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alex Fist[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ashley Blakemore[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kylee S Diaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hwasoon Kim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Laura J Edwards[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zsolt Rak[SUP] 1 [/SUP], M Alan Brookhart[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Zack Moore[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Ibukun Kalu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Angelique E Boutzoukas[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ganga S Moorthy[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Diya Uthappa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Zeni Scott[SUP] 2 [/SUP], David J Weber[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Andi L Shane[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Kristina A Bryant[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Kanecia O Zimmerman[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35971240
- DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058200
Abstract
Objectives: We evaluated the impact of a test-to-stay (TTS) program on within-school transmission and missed school days in optionally masked kindergarten through 12th grade schools during a period of high community severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission.
Methods: Close contacts of those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were eligible for enrollment in the TTS program if exposure to a non-household contact occurred between 11/29/2021 and 01/28/2022. Consented participants avoided school exclusion if they remained asymptomatic and rapid antigen testing at pre-specified intervals remained negative. Primary outcomes included within-school tertiary attack rate (test positivity among close contacts of positive TTS participants) and school days saved among TTS participants. We estimated the number of additional school-acquired cases resulting from TTS and eliminating school exclusion.
Results: A total of 1675 participants tested positive or received at least one negative test between days 5 and 7, and completed follow-up; 92% were students and 91% were exposed to an unmasked primary case. We identified 201 positive cases. We observed a tertiary attack rate of 10% (95% CI 6-19%) and 7,272 (89%) of potentially missed days were saved through TTS implementation. We estimated one additional school-acquired case for every 21 TTS participants remaining in school buildings during the entire study period.
Conclusions: Even in the setting of high community transmission, a TTS strategy resulted in substantial reduction in missed school days in optionally masked schools.