Controlling SARS-CoV-2 in schools using repetitive testing strategies.

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Modeling

Background:

• SARS-CoV-2 remains a global health concern, with ongoing debate regarding pediatric vaccination.
• Non-pharmaceutical interventions are crucial for mitigating transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants among children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different COVID-19 testing strategies on infection dynamics in primary schools.
• To compare symptomatic isolation, reactive screening, and repetitive screening approaches.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an individual-based modeling approach to simulate SARS-CoV-2 spread in a primary school setting.
• Modeled three distinct testing strategies: symptomatic isolation, reactive screening, and repetitive screening.

Main Results:

• Repetitive screening demonstrated a significant reduction in the school attack rate compared to symptomatic isolation or reactive screening.
• Repetitive testing led to increased case detection and potential for class/school closures, resulting in more lost school days.
• Relaxing closure thresholds alongside repetitive testing can maintain epidemic control while reducing absenteeism.

Conclusions:

• Repetitive SARS-CoV-2 testing is an effective strategy for controlling school-based transmission.
• Optimizing school closure policies in conjunction with repetitive testing can balance epidemic control with educational continuity.