BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

• Hobbs et al. (MMWR, 2020) assessed school, community, and close contact exposures associated with pediatric SARS-CoV-2 test positivity

METHODS:

• Case-control study
• Setting
  • Mississippi
• Participants
  • <18 years  
• Study design
  • Cases: Positive PCR test
  • Controls: Negative PCR tests
  • Guardians/parents provided information on school, community, and close contact exposures

RESULTS:

• 397 children and adolescents
• In-person school attendance ≤14 days before SARS-CoV-2 test was not associated with a positive test result
  • Cases: 62% attended school
  • Controls: 68% attended school
  • Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.8 (95% CI, 0.5 to 1.3)
• Children (≥2 years) with a negative test and learning in-person: Parents were more likely to report mask wearing by all school faculty and staff
  • Cases: 64% staff mask wearing
  • Controls: 76% staff mask wearing
  • aOR 0.4 (95% CI, 0.2 to 0.8)
• In the 2 weeks preceding SARS-CoV-2 testing, case-patients were more likely to have
  • Had close contact with a person with known COVID-19
    • aOR 3.2 (95% CI, 2.0 to 5.0)
  • Attended gatherings with persons outside their household, including social functions
    • aOR 2.4 (95% CI, 1.1 to 5.5)
  • Participated in activities with other children
    • aOR 3.3 (95% CI, 1.3 to 8.4)
  • Had visitors in the home
    • aOR 1.9 (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.9)

CONCLUSION:

• Close contacts with persons with confirmed COVID-19 and gatherings contribute to COVID-19 infections in children, but schools do not appear to be strong vectors of transmission
• Mask wearing, social distancing, and effective isolation and quarantine continue to help prevent the spread of COVID-19
• The authors conclude

Among participants with close contact with a person with COVID-19, close contacts of case-patients were more likely to be family members and less likely to be school or child care classmates than were those of control participants

Attending in-person school or child care during the 2 weeks before the SARS-CoV-2 test was not associated with increased likelihood of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result 

Learn More – Primary Sources:

Factors Associated with Positive SARS-CoV-2 Test Results in Outpatient Health Facilities and Emergency Departments Among Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years — Mississippi, September–November 2020

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