Frontiers in Public Health (Dec 2021)

Considerations for the Safe Operation of Schools During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.751451
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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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.

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