Abstract
A large number of common cold outbreaks in Hong Kong schools and childcare centers during October–November 2020 led to territorywide school dismissals. Increased susceptibility to rhinoviruses during prolonged school closures and dismissals for coronavirus disease and varying effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions may have heightened transmission of cold-causing viruses after school attendance resumed.
Highlights
A large number of common cold outbreaks in Hong Kong schools and childcare centers during October–November 2020 led to territorywide school dismissals
We report a large number of outbreaks of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), likely rhinovirus infections, that were identified during October–November 2020 in reopened primary schools, secondary schools, kindergartens, childcare centers, and nursery schools in Hong Kong; these outbreaks led to further territorywide school dismissals for younger children
482 outbreaks were reported during October 25–November 28, including 308 (63.9%) outbreaks in primary schools, 149 (30.9%) in kindergartens, childcare centers, and nursery schools, and 25 (5.2%) in secondary schools (2)
Summary
A large number of common cold outbreaks in Hong Kong schools and childcare centers during October–November 2020 led to territorywide school dismissals. We report a large number of outbreaks of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), likely rhinovirus infections, that were identified during October–November 2020 in reopened primary schools, secondary schools, kindergartens, childcare centers, and nursery schools in Hong Kong; these outbreaks led to further territorywide school dismissals for younger children. In the last week of October 2020, the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection began receiving reports of URTI outbreaks in kindergartens, childcare centers, nursery schools, and primary schools.
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