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Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Campbell, MM; Benjamin, DK; Mann, TK; Fist, A; Blakemore, A; Diaz, KS; Kim, H; Edwards, LJ; Rak, Z; Brookhart, MA; Moore, Z; Tilson, EC ...
Published in: Pediatrics
November 1, 2022

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 transmission. METHODS: Close contacts of those with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were eligible for enrollment in the TTS program if exposure to a nonhousehold contact occurred between November 11, 2021 and January 28, 2022. Consented participants avoided school exclusion if they remained asymptomatic and rapid antigen testing at prespecified 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 1 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% confidence interval: 6%-19%), and 7272 (89%) of potentially missed days were saved through TTS implementation. We estimated 1 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.

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Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

November 1, 2022

Volume

150

Issue

5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Schools
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Pediatrics
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • COVID-19
  • 52 Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
 

Citation

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Chicago
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Campbell, M. M., Benjamin, D. K., Mann, T. K., Fist, A., Blakemore, A., Diaz, K. S., … Zimmerman, K. O. (2022). Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools. Pediatrics, 150(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-058200
Campbell, Melissa M., Daniel K. Benjamin, Tara K. Mann, Alex Fist, Ashley Blakemore, Kylee S. Diaz, Hwasoon Kim, et al. “Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools.Pediatrics 150, no. 5 (November 1, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-058200.
Campbell MM, Benjamin DK, Mann TK, Fist A, Blakemore A, Diaz KS, et al. Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools. Pediatrics. 2022 Nov 1;150(5).
Campbell, Melissa M., et al. “Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools.Pediatrics, vol. 150, no. 5, Nov. 2022. Pubmed, doi:10.1542/peds.2022-058200.
Campbell MM, Benjamin DK, Mann TK, Fist A, Blakemore A, Diaz KS, Kim H, Edwards LJ, Rak Z, Brookhart MA, Moore Z, Tilson EC, Kalu I, Boutzoukas AE, Moorthy GS, Uthappa D, Scott Z, Weber DJ, Shane AL, Bryant KA, Zimmerman KO. Test-to-Stay After SARS-CoV-2 Exposure: A Mitigation Strategy for Optionally Masked K-12 Schools. Pediatrics. 2022 Nov 1;150(5).

Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

November 1, 2022

Volume

150

Issue

5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Schools
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Pediatrics
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • COVID-19
  • 52 Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences