Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 17, 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Transmission in Primary Schools in England in June-December, 2020 (SKIDs): An Active, Prospective Surveillance Study

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  • Results from the COVID-19 surveillance in School KIDSs (sKIDs) study of primary school children in England indicated that SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in primary schools were low following partial and full reopening. During the summer half-term (that began in June 2020), weekly infection rates were 4.1 per 100,000 students and 12.5 per 100,000 staff. Seropositivity for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was not associated with school attendance during lockdown or staff contact with students. At the end of the summer term, five participants (four students, one staff member) seroconverted (out of approximately 12,000 participants). By December, 55 (5%) of 1,085 participants who were seronegative at recruitment had seroconverted, including 19 (6%) of 340 students and 36 (5%) of 745 staff members. 

Ladhani et al. (Mar 17, 2021). SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Transmission in Primary Schools in England in June-December, 2020 (SKIDs): An Active, Prospective Surveillance Study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00061-4/fulltext