Science brief: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12 schools

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description:
  Updated July 9, 2021 ; Schools and early care and education (ECE) programs are an important part of the infrastructure of communities. They provide safe, supportive learning environments for children and adolescents and employ teachers and other staff.1, 2 Schools and some ECE programs also provide critical services, including school meal programs and social, physical, behavioral, and mental health services.1, 3 Schools and ECE programs have other benefits for the community, including enabling parents, guardians, and caregivers to work.1, 2, 4 In the spring of 2020, kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) schools and many ECE programs in the United States closed for in-person instruction or care as a strategy to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Reports suggest that the limited in-person instruction during the pandemic may have had a negative effect on learning for children5 and on the mental and emotional well-being of both parents and children.6, 7 For schools and ECE programs, the benefits of in-person school and caregiving need to be balanced against the risk of acquiring and spreading SARS-CoV-2 in these settings.
• Content Notes:
  Background -- COVID-19 among children and adolescents -- Schools and SARS-CoV-2 transmission -- SARS-CoV-2 transmission among students, families, and teachers and school staff -- Transmission in the ECE setting -- Prevention strategies and school in-person learning -- Sports and other extracurricular activities -- Conclusions -- Previous Updates.
• Subjects:
  • Coronavirus Infections
  • COVID-19
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • Schools
  • Students
• Series:
  Science Brief
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Webpage
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/107840/cdc_107840_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 240.07 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f80f4ba6dd9792b412aca59b6637b7f5c91eaae877a21fabb0eb8d942b550e4285d544d547588588251e4c0b738cfe04baf6277f9f2ebbf6bc493de8d75ed02f