TY  - INPR
A1  - Theuring, Stefanie
A1  - Thielecke, Marlene
A1  - Loon, Welmoed van
A1  - Hommes, Franziska
A1  - Hülso, Claudia
A1  - Haar, Annkathrin von der
A1  - Körner, Jennifer
A1  - Schmidt, Michael
A1  - Böhringer, Falko
A1  - Mall, Marcus A.
A1  - Rosen, Alexander
A1  - Kalle, Christof von
A1  - Kirchberger, Valerie Sara
A1  - Kurth, Tobias
A1  - Seybold, Joachim
A1  - Mockenhaupt, Frank Peter
T1  - SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in school settings during the second wave in Berlin, Germany: a cross-sectional study
T2  - medRxiv
N2  - Background: School attendance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is intensely debated. Modelling studies suggest that school closures contribute to community transmission reduction. However, data among school-attending students and staff are scarce. In November 2020, we examined SARS-CoV-2 infections and seroreactivity in 24 randomly selected school classes and connected households in Berlin, Germany.
Methods: Students and school staff were examined, oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples collected, and SARS-CoV-2 infection and IgG antibodies detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. Household members performed self-swabs. Individual and institutional infection prevention and control measures were assessed. Classes with SARS-CoV-2 infection and connected household members were re-tested after one week.
Findings: 1119 participants were examined, including 177 primary and 175 secondary school students, 142 staff, and 625 household members. Participants reported mainly cold symptoms (19·4%). SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in eight of 24 classes affecting each 1-2 individuals. Infection prevalence was 2·7% (95%CI; 1·2-5·0%; 9/338), 1·4% (0·2-5·1%; 2/140), and 2·3% (1·3-3·8%; 14/611) among students, staff and household members, respectively, including quarantined persons. Six of nine infected students were asymptomatic. Prevalence increased with inconsistent facemask use in school, way to school on foot, and case-contacts outside school. IgG antibodies were detected in 2·0% (0·8-4·1%; 7/347), 1·4% (0·2-5·0%; 2/141) and 1·4% (0·6-2·7%; 8/576), respectively. For three of nine households with infection(s) detected at cross-sectional assessment, origin in school seemed possible. After one week, no school-related, secondary infections appeared in affected classes; the attack rate in connected households was 1·1%.
Interpretation: These data suggest that school attendance under preventive measures is feasible, provided their rigorous implementation. In balancing threats and benefits of open versus closed schools during the pandemic, parents and society need to consider possible spill-overs into their households. Deeper insight is needed into the infection risks due to being a schoolchild as compared to attending school.
Y1  - 2021
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/73588
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-735886
IS  - 2021.01.27.21250517
ER  -