August 4, 2020

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Australian Educational Settings: A Prospective Cohort Study

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• Transmission between laboratory-confirmed pediatric (≤18) and adult COVID-19 cases from schools and early childhood education care (ECEC) setting and close contacts was examined in South Wales, Australia.  Close contacts (n=1448) of infectious cases (n=27; n=12 children, n=15 adults) were followed to measure transmission. Close contacts were quarantined at home for 14 days, monitored, and offered testing if symptomatic. The secondary attack rate from cases to contacts was 0.3% from child to child, 1% from child to adult, 1.5% from adult to child, and 4.4% from adult to adult, with 44% of close contacts tested. Secondary transmission occurred in 16% of settings. Among facilities where asymptomatic contacts were also tested, 23% developed COVID-19 symptoms and the secondary attack rate was 1.8% among child contacts vs 2.8% among adult contacts.  

Macartney et al. (Aug 2020). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Australian Educational Settings: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30251-0