Considerations for the safe operation of schools during the coronavirus pandemic

Lordan, Ronan; Prior, Samantha; Hennessy, Elizabeth; Naik, Amruta; Ghosh, Soumita; Paschos, Georgios K.; Skarke, Carsten; Barekat, Kayla; Hollingsworth, Taylor; Juska, Sydney; Mazaleuskaya, Liudmila L.; Teegarden, Sarah; Glascock, Abigail L.; Anderson, Sean; Meng, Hu; Tang, Soon-Yew; Weljie, Aalim; Bottalico, Lisa; Ricciotti, Emanuela; Cherfane, Perla; Mrcela, Antonijo; Grant, Gregory; Poole, Kristen; Mayer, Natalie; Waring, Michael; Adang, Laura; Becker, Julie; Fries, Susanne; FitzGerald, Garret A.; Grosser, Tilo

Date

2021

Abstract

During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, providing safe in-person schooling has been a dynamic process balancing evolving community disease burden, scientific information, and local regulatory requirements with the mandate for education. Considerations include the health risks of SARS-CoV 2 infection and its post-acute sequelae, the impact of remote learning or periods of quarantine on education and well-being of children, and the contribution of schools to viral circulation in the community. The risk for infections that may occur within schools is related to the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections within the local community. Thus, persistent suppression of viral circulation in the community through effective public health measures including vaccination is critical to in-person schooling. Evidence suggests that the likelihood of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within schools can be minimized if mitigation strategies are rationally combined. This article reviews evidence-based approaches and practices for the continual operation of in-person schooling.

Description

peer-reviewed

Publisher

Frontiers Media

Citation

Frontiers in Public Health;9, article 751451

Funding Information

National Center for Advancing Translational Science, National Institutes of Health, University of Pennsylvania Postdoctoral Opportunities in Research and Teaching