March 11, 2021

COVID-19 Infections among Students and Staff in New York City Public Schools

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): schools, transmission

• Testing of asymptomatic students and staff in New York public schools determined that the incidence of COVID-19 was lower among the school population (341.1 cases per 100,000) compared to the citywide population (528.9 cases per 100,000). Of 234,132 asymptomatic persons tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection in New York City public schools during October to December 2020, 986 (0.4%) tested positive. Trends in test positivity were consistent with rising citywide positivity during the same period, though prevalence in the schools were largely lower than citywide prevalence. Test positivity was highest among K-8 staff and elementary school students. The estimated secondary attack rate associated with exposure at school was 0.5% (191 positive out of 36,423 school-based contacts). For the secondary cases with sufficient exposure information, 78% likely had a staff person as the index case.

Varma et al. (Mar 9, 2021). COVID-19 Infections among Students and Staff in New York City Public Schools. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-050605