Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 19, 2021

Pilot Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission in Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools Implementing Mitigation Strategies — St. Louis County and City of Springfield, Missouri, December 2020

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  • School-based SARS-CoV-2 secondary transmission occurred in 2% of 102 close contacts identified in investigations of cases that occurred in K-12 schools (n=22) in Springfield and St. Louis County, Missouri. All schools offered in person-learning, with 21,342 (70%) students attending in-person at least part-time. While schools in both counties implemented COVID-19 mitigation strategies, schools in Springfield implemented a modified quarantine policy permitting in-person learning for student close contacts aged ≤18 years who had a school-associated contact with a person with COVID-19.
  • A total of 37 students, teachers, and staff members with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 156 of their school-based contacts were interviewed and offered testing. 2% of 102 contacts who received testing had positive results, indicating probable school-based transmission. 42 student contacts in Springfield were permitted to continue in-person classes under the modified quarantine, none of whom received a positive test result. 

Dawson et al. (Mar 19, 2021). Pilot Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Transmission in Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools Implementing Mitigation Strategies — St. Louis County and City of Springfield, Missouri, December 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7012e4