Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 23, 2021

Details of COVID-19 Disease Mitigation Strategies in 17 K-12 Schools in Wood County Wisconsin

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  • [Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Minimal in-school transmission of COVID-19 occurred despite low adherence to mitigation measures and minimal improvements in ventilation systems between August and November 2020 in Wood County, Wisconsin. According to surveys distributed to the administrations of participating schools, 89% of elementary students did not maintain 6 feet of physical distancing in the classroom, 95% were within 6 feet in lunchrooms, and 86% did not wear masks at recess. 86% and 68% of secondary students were able to maintain 6 feet of distancing in the classroom and in lunch, respectively. No students were 6 feet apart in the hallways, and new air filtration systems were only installed in 41% of schools. Mask compliance among teachers while indoors was 90% or greater in most elementary and secondary schools. Among 191 COVID-19 cases identified in schools, only 7 cases in children were attributed to in-school spread (none among staff) during the study period, despite high community transmission with a test positivity rate of up to 42% and 1,189 per 100,000 weekly cases.

Falk et al. (Mar 20, 2021). Details of COVID-19 Disease Mitigation Strategies in 17 K-12 Schools in Wood County Wisconsin. Pre-print downloaded Mar 23 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.16.21253761