Abstract
BackgroundSchool closures are a widely implemented strategy for limiting infection spread in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The negative impact of school closures on children and young people is increasingly apparent, however.ObjectiveWe aim to evaluate the feasibility of an infection monitoring program in schools to enable targeted quarantining to replace school closures. The program is currently being implemented in two model schools in Magdeburg, Germany, within the framework of the Study of Coronavirus Outbreak Prevention in Magdeburg Schools (Studie zur Ausbruchsvermeidung von Corona an Magdeburger Schulen [STACAMA]).MethodsFive pupils per class are pseudorandomly selected twice a week and asked to provide a gargle sample over a 16-week evaluation period. RNA is extracted from each sample individually in a laboratory and pooled according to school class for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) analysis. Immediate individual sample testing will be carried out in the case of a positive pool test. Individual RNA extraction prior to pooling and application of rRT-PCR result in high test sensitivity. Testing will be performed in strict adherence to data protection standards. All participating pupils will receive a 16-digit study code, which they will be able to use to access their testResultsWhen the study commenced on December 2, 2020, 520 (52%) pupils and their families or guardians had consented to study participation. The study was suspended after four test rounds due to renewed school closures resulting from rising regional infection incidence. Testing resumed when schools reopened on March 8, 2021, at which time consent to participation was provided for 54% of pupils. We will quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the logistics and acceptability of the program.ConclusionsThe findings from this study should inform the design of infection surveillance programs in schools based on gargle samples and a PCR-based pool testing procedure, enabling the identification of aspects that may require adaptation before large-scale implementation. Our focus on each step of the logistics and on the experiences of families should enable a robust assessment of the feasibility of such an approach.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/28673
Highlights
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organization, caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in unforeseen challenges to education systems around the world
The study was suspended after four test rounds due to renewed school closures resulting from rising regional infection incidence
Testing resumed when schools reopened on March 8, 2021, at which time consent to participation was provided for 54% of pupils
Summary
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organization, caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in unforeseen challenges to education systems around the world. When emergency care cannot be provided or is unsuitable due to the child belonging to a risk group, grandparents may be called upon to take on a care role [15], despite strong evidence that older age groups are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 [16-18]. It was apparent from the early stages of the pandemic that children can be affected by SARS-CoV-2 [19], it is well established that children tend to have milder acute symptoms [20,21], and younger children have lower SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission rates than adults [22-27]. The negative impact of school closures on children and young people is increasingly apparent,
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
