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@CDCgov is expected to to release guidelines to reopen schools this week. So what do we know about keeping safe? One study found that over a 13 week period - schools in a Wisconsin district had a 37% lower incidence of infections relative to the surrounding community. 1/10
The report found that among the 191 cases detected in the schools - only 7 were from in-school spread. This is evidence that schools can be safe if (and this is an important if…) they have the resources to do it. 2/10 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e3.htm?s_cid=mm7004e3_w
Masks - More than 92% of students used masks. Students were provided with double or triple layer cloth masks. And both younger and older children used them. This is a great guide on the difference in masks. 3/10
Cohorts - Students had limited contact with small groups of between 11-20 kids. All classes and lunch periods were held indoors and kids were seated next to the same person as much as possible. Symptomatic students and their siblings were required to quarantine at home. 4/10
Testing - Now, keep in mind, the district didn’t do regular surveillance testing - so we don't know the real number of asymptomatic cases. But, regular testing availability is critical for students and staff. 5/10
We also don’t know what type of ventilation system the school had, but we know the CDC says improving ventilation could be as simple as opening a window. 6/10
@YaleSPH breaks it down even further offering specific ways to improve ventilation - one of them being what they call a “flush period” - a break between classes to let air be flushed out between different groups. 7/10 https://publichealth.yale.edu/research_practice/interdepartmental/covid/schools/spaces/
Also, the 17 schools that were studied were in a rural district. Cities might have different patterns of virus transmission and risk. 8/10
Remember, we also have to worry about keeping the approximately 3.7 million teachers in our country safe. Some have argued to make them a priority for vaccines. Currently, there are 26 states plus DC already offering teachers shots. 9/10
