Abstract
BackgroundDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres organised children’s attendance in different ways, they reduced opening hours, provided emergency support for a few children, or closed completely. Further, protection and hygiene measures like fixed children-staff groups, ventilation and surface disinfection were introduced in ECEC centres. To inform or modify public health measures in ECEC, we investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and staff in ECEC centres in light of social determinants (i.e. the socioeconomic status of the children) and recommended structural and hygiene measures. We focus on the question if the relevant factors differ between the 2nd (when no variant of concern (VOC) circulated) and the 3rd wave (when VOC B.1.1.7 (Alpha) predominated).MethodsBased on panel data from a weekly online survey of ECEC centre managers (calendar week 36/2020 to 22/2021, ongoing) including approx. 8500 centres, we estimate the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and staff using random-effect-within-between (REWB) panel models for count data in the 2nd and 3rd wave.ResultsECEC centres with a high proportion of children with low socioeconomic status (SES) have a higher risk of infections in staff and children. Strict contact restrictions between groups like fixed group assignments for children and fixed staff assignments to groups prevent infections. Both effects tend to be stronger in the 3rd wave.ConclusionECEC centres with a large proportion of children with a low SES background and lack of using fixed child/staff cohorts experience higher COVID-19 rates. Over the long run, centres should be supported in maintaining recommended measures. Preventive measures such as the vaccination of staff should be prioritised in centres with large proportions of low SES children.
Highlights
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres organised children’s attendance in different ways, they reduced opening hours, provided emergency support for a few children, or closed completely
We found ECEC centres with a larger proportion of children with a low socioeconomic status (SES) background to have the highest risk of infections, and we found this effect to be increasing in the 3rd wave compared to the 2nd wave
The result that about one third of the ECEC centres in the ECEC centre registry have not implemented the recommended fixed staff assignment is likely associated with well-known structural problems of many ECEC centres in Germany
Summary
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres organised children’s attendance in different ways, they reduced opening hours, provided emergency support for a few children, or closed completely. The German government ordered national lockdowns and reduced the number of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres to reduce the number of contacts [1,2,3,4,5]. Children’s attendance in German ECEC Centres during the COVID-19 pandemic With beginning of the 1st wave, a “strict” lockdown was introduced during which only children with parents providing essential services (e.g. physicians or food vendors) and children in need of child welfare services (e.g. cases of maltreatment) could attend ECEC centres [5]. ECEC attendance regulations differed across regional meso and micro levels
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