Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Outbreaks Associated with Child Care Facilities — Salt Lake City, Utah, April–July 2020

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lopez, Adriana S. ; Hill, Mary ; Antezano, Jessica ; Vilven, Dede ; Rutner, Tyler ; Bogdanow, Linda ; Claflin, Carlene ; Kracalik, Ian T. ; Fields, Victoria L. ; Dunn, Angela ; Tate, Jacqueline E. ; Kirking, Hannah L. ; Kiphibane, Tair ; Risk, Ilene ; Tran, Cuc H.
• Corporate Authors:
  CDC COVID-9 Response Team. ; Salt Lake County (Utah). Health Department. ; Utah. Department of Health.
• Description:
  What is already known about this topic? Children aged ≥10 years have been shown to transmit SARS-CoV-2 in school settings.
  
  What is added by this report? Twelve children acquired COVID-19 in child care facilities. Transmission was documented from these children to at least 12 (26%) of 46 nonfacility contacts (confirmed or probable cases). One parent was hospitalized. Transmission was observed from two of three children with confirmed, asymptomatic COVID-19.
  
  What are the implications for public health practice? SARS-CoV-2 Infections among young children acquired in child care settings were transmitted to their household members. Testing of contacts of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in child care settings, including children who might not have symptoms, could improve control of transmission from child care attendees to family members.
  
  Reports suggest that children aged ≥10 years can efficiently transmit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1,2). However, limited data are available on SARS-CoV-2 transmission from young children, particularly in child care settings (3). To better understand transmission from young children, contact tracing data collected from three COVID-19 outbreaks in child care facilities in Salt Lake County, Utah, during April 1–July 10, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed to explore attack rates and transmission patterns. A total of 184 persons, including 110 (60%) children had a known epidemiologic link to one of these three facilities. Among these persons, 31 confirmed COVID-19 cases occurred; 13 (42%) in children. Among pediatric patients with facility-associated confirmed COVID-19, all had mild or no symptoms. Twelve children acquired COVID-19 in child care facilities. Transmission was documented from these children to at least 12 (26%) of 46 nonfacility contacts (confirmed or probable cases). One parent was hospitalized. Transmission was observed from two of three children with confirmed, asymptomatic COVID-19. Detailed contact tracing data show that children can play a role in transmission from child care settings to household contacts. Having SARS-CoV-2 testing available, timely results, and testing of contacts of persons with COVID-19 in child care settings regardless of symptoms can help prevent transmission. CDC guidance for child care programs recommends the use of face masks, particularly among staff members, especially when children are too young to wear masks, along with hand hygiene, frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, and staying home when ill to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission (4).
  
  Suggested citation for this article: Lopez AS, Hill M, Antezano J, et al. Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Outbreaks Associated with Child Care Facilities — Salt Lake City, Utah, April–July 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 11 September 2020.
  
  mm6937e3.htm?s_cid=mm6937e3_w
  
  mm6937e3-H.pdf
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Betacoronavirus Child Child, Preschool Child Care Coronavirus Infections/transmission COVID-19 Pandemics Pneumonia, Viral/transmission
• Source:
  MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2020; v. 69 Early Release
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Salt Lake City, UT
• Pages in Document:
  5 pdf pages
• Volume:
  69
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:17a523546d6c0aa4677de9834ef99e70a2eacd97e0f29eee24e889bde5bafc7eec6742d62bac65545e360799ca20171abc02d16c30f2992cf5ea04f32d3bc0d5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/93642/cdc_93642_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 144.13 KB ]