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Weekly SARS-CoV-2 Sentinel Surveillance in Primary Schools, Kindergartens, and Nurseries, Germany, June‒November 2020
Insights
Asymptomatic children in German schools rarely spread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. With proper infection control, these young populations do not significantly drive the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The role of children in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is a critical public health question.
- Understanding transmission dynamics in educational settings is vital for implementing effective control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in young children attending primary schools, kindergartens, and nurseries in Germany.
- To evaluate the contribution of asymptomatic children in these institutions to the overall pandemic spread.
Main Methods:
- Oropharyngeal swab specimens were collected from 3,169 children.
- Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
Main Results:
- Only 2 out of 3,169 specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
- The low positivity rate suggests minimal active viral circulation among the studied pediatric population.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic children in German educational institutions do not appear to be a primary driver of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
- The findings underscore the effectiveness of implemented infection control measures in mitigating transmission within schools and nurseries.
Abstract:
We investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in primary schools, kindergartens, and nurseries in Germany. Of 3,169 oropharyngeal swab specimens, only 2 were positive by real-time reverse transcription PCR. Asymptomatic children attending these institutions do not appear to be driving the pandemic when appropriate infection control measures are used.
