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Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Moorthy, GS; Mann, TK; Boutzoukas, AE; Blakemore, A; Brookhart, MA; Edwards, L; Jackman, JG; Panayotti, GMM; Warren, T; Pendleton, J; Weber, DJ ...
Published in: Pediatrics
February 1, 2022

OBJECTIVES: Masking is an essential coronavirus 2019 mitigation tool assisting in the safe return of kindergarten through 12th grade children and staff to in-person instruction; however, masking adherence, compliance evaluation methods, and potential consequences of surveillance are currently unknown. We describe 2 school districts' approaches to promote in-school masking and the consequent impact on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 secondary transmission. METHODS: Two North Carolina school districts developed surveillance programs with daily versus weekly interventions to monitor in-school masking adherence. Safety teams recorded the proportion of students and staff appropriately wearing masks and provided real-time education after observation of improper masking. Primary infections, within-school transmission, and county-level severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection rates were assessed. RESULTS: Proper mask use was high in both intervention groups and districts. There were variations by grade level, with lower rates in elementary schools, and proper adherence being higher in the weekly surveillance group. Rates of secondary transmission were low in both districts with surveillance programs, regardless of intervention frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Masking surveillance interventions are effective at ensuring appropriate masking at all school levels. Creating a culture of safety within schools led by local leadership is important and a feasible opportunity for school districts with return to in-person school. In our study of schools with high masking adherence, secondary transmission was low.

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Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

February 1, 2022

Volume

149

Issue

12 Suppl 2

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Schools
  • Pediatrics
  • North Carolina
  • Masks
  • Humans
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child
  • COVID-19
  • Adolescent
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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MLA
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Moorthy, G. S., Mann, T. K., Boutzoukas, A. E., Blakemore, A., Brookhart, M. A., Edwards, L., … Zimmerman, K. O. (2022). Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission. Pediatrics, 149(12 Suppl 2). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-054268I
Moorthy, Ganga S., Tara K. Mann, Angelique E. Boutzoukas, Ashley Blakemore, M Alan Brookhart, Laura Edwards, Jennifer G. Jackman, et al. “Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission.Pediatrics 149, no. 12 Suppl 2 (February 1, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-054268I.
Moorthy GS, Mann TK, Boutzoukas AE, Blakemore A, Brookhart MA, Edwards L, et al. Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission. Pediatrics. 2022 Feb 1;149(12 Suppl 2).
Moorthy, Ganga S., et al. “Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission.Pediatrics, vol. 149, no. 12 Suppl 2, Feb. 2022. Pubmed, doi:10.1542/peds.2021-054268I.
Moorthy GS, Mann TK, Boutzoukas AE, Blakemore A, Brookhart MA, Edwards L, Jackman JG, Panayotti GMM, Warren T, Pendleton J, Garcés AW, Corneli A, Weber DJ, Kalu IC, Benjamin DK, Zimmerman KO. Masking Adherence in K-12 Schools and SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission. Pediatrics. 2022 Feb 1;149(12 Suppl 2).

Published In

Pediatrics

DOI

EISSN

1098-4275

Publication Date

February 1, 2022

Volume

149

Issue

12 Suppl 2

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Schools
  • Pediatrics
  • North Carolina
  • Masks
  • Humans
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child
  • COVID-19
  • Adolescent