May 21, 2021

COVID-19 Testing to Sustain In-Person Instruction and Extracurricular Activities in High Schools — Utah, November 2020–March 2021

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): schools, testing

• An evaluation of two high school COVID-19 testing programs implemented in Utah to support continuation of in-person instruction and extracurricular activities found that the programs saved an estimated 109,952 in-person instruction student-days and supported continuation of extracurricular activities. One program implemented SARS-CoV-2 testing every 14 days for participation in extracurricular activities, and the other implemented school-wide testing when the school crossed an outbreak threshold as an alternative to switching to remote instruction. However, the impact of the testing program on COVID-19 transmission in schools was not assessed in this study. 

Lanier et al. (May 21, 2021). COVID-19 Testing to Sustain In-Person Instruction and Extracurricular Activities in High Schools — Utah, November 2020–March 2021. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7021e2