Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 12, 2021

Effectiveness of Three versus Six Feet of Physical Distancing for Controlling Spread of COVID-19 among Primary and Secondary Students and Staff: A Retrospective, State-Wide Cohort Study

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  • Increasing physical distancing requirements in schools from ≥3 feet to ≥6 feet was not associated with a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 cases among students or staff if other mitigation measures were implemented, based on a retrospective cohort study of students (n=537,336) and staff (n=99,390) among 251 school districts with any in-person learning in Massachusetts during the Fall 2020 academic period. 96% of school districts implemented a ≥3 feet distancing policy, 64% of districts reported limiting on-campus enrollment, and all districts adopted universal masking for both students in grade 2 and above and for school staff. After adjusting for race/ethnicity and socio-economic status, there was no difference in the incidence rates between schools with a ≥3 feet vs ≥6 feet distancing policy among students (aIRR=0.761) and staff (aIRR=0.902). Incidence rates in both students and staff were strongly correlated with community incidence and positive cases in schools, particularly among school staff.  

van den Berg et al. (Mar 10, 2021). Effectiveness of Three versus Six Feet of Physical Distancing for Controlling Spread of COVID-19 among Primary and Secondary Students and Staff: A Retrospective, State-Wide Cohort Study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab230