Secondary transmission of COVID-19 in preschool and school settings in northern Italy after their reopening in September 2020: a population-based study

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles Vol. 25; no. 49; p. 1
• Main Authors: Larosa, Elisabetta, Djuric, Olivera, Cassinadri, Mariateresa, Cilloni, Silvia, Bisaccia, Eufemia, Vicentini, Massimo, Venturelli, Francesco, Giorgi Rossi, Paolo, Pezzotti, Patrizio, Bedeschi, Emanuela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Centre Europeen pour la Surveillance Epidemiologique du SIDA (European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS) 10-12-2020; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - transmission; Disease transmission; Disease Transmission, Infectious - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Masks; Mortality; Organizational Policy; Physical Distancing; Population-based studies; Rapid Communication; SARS-CoV-2; School Teachers - statistics & numerical data; Schools; Schools, Nursery; Students - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Italy; SARS-CoV-2; outbreaks; surveillance; Covid-19; Schools
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X; 1560-7917
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.49.2001911

We report epidemiological investigations of transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 41 classes of 36 schools in Reggio Emilia province, northern Italy, from their reopening on 1 September to 15 October 2020. The overall secondary case attack rate was 3.2%, reaching 6.6% in middle and high schools. More timely isolation and testing of classmates could be effective in reducing virus transmission in this setting.