February 22, 2021

Reported COVID-19 Incidence in Wisconsin High School Athletes During Fall 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): schools, sports, transmission

[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A study of COVID-19 in high school athletes in Wisconsin in September 2020 showed that 207 schools that reinitiated sports reported 270 COVID-19 cases among 30,074 players, for case and incidence rates of 809 cases per 100,000 players and 32.6 cases per 100,000 player-days, respectively. 115 (55%) cases were attributed to household contact, and 85 (41%) to contact outside sport or school. No difference in incidence rates between team and individual sports (IRR = 1.03) or between non-contact and contact sports (IRR = 0.53) were detected. 84% of schools required face masks while playing. For sports with >50 participating schools, there were no significant association between face mask use and COVID-19 incidence in cross-country running (IRR = 0.71), football (IRR = 1.6), boys’ soccer (IRR = 2.3), or girls’ volleyball (IRR = 1.4).

Sasser et al. (Feb 20, 2021). Reported COVID-19 Incidence in Wisconsin High School Athletes During Fall 2020. Pre-print downloaded Feb 22 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.18.21251986