From the Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2022 Aug 1;41(8):e312-e317. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003569. Epub 2022 Jul 13.
Since the beginning of the Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, school closure as a mitigating measure was at the center of a public and professional debate. While the negative effects of school closure cannot be ignored, accumulating data suggested that it is necessary for reducing community transmission. Our study presents an optional strategy for safe school opening during a pandemic, implemented in selected Israeli high schools by a special task force constructed by the Sheba Medical Center (SMC).
The study took place between November 2020 and April 2021. Three schools from different areas of Israel were enrolled. The participants were asked to undergo bi-weekly SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic antigen tests (Ag-RDT). Those who tested positive were requested to self-isolate, whereas their school contacts were tested daily by Ag-RDT. Participants with a previously documented SARS-CoV-2 infection or who were found to be SARS-CoV-2 seropositive upon enrollment were exempted from screening.
Of a total of 361 participants who enrolled in the study, 12.3% were found to be seropositive. Fourteen SARS-CoV-2 cases were detected (3.5%), 12 of them in one single school located in an endemic area for SARS-CoV-2. The 14 cases resulted in 84 days of COVID-19-related absence from school, comparing with 1775 potential days of COVID-19-related absence under a strategy implementing self-isolation instead of testing.
Safe continuation of academic routine during the pandemic is possible when using rapid Ag-RDT as a screening tool, while allowing swab collection by trained students and teachers.
自严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒 2 型（SARS-CoV-2）大流行开始以来，作为缓解措施的学校关闭一直是公众和专业人士争论的焦点。虽然不能忽视学校关闭的负面影响，但积累的数据表明，这对于减少社区传播是必要的。我们的研究提出了一种在大流行期间安全开学的可选策略，由谢巴医疗中心（SMC）组建的特别工作组在以色列的几所高中实施。
该研究于 2020 年 11 月至 2021 年 4 月进行。以色列三个不同地区的三所学校参加了该研究。要求参与者每两周接受一次 SARS-CoV-2 快速诊断抗原检测（Ag-RDT）。检测结果呈阳性的人被要求自我隔离，而他们的学校接触者则每天通过 Ag-RDT 进行检测。有先前记录的 SARS-CoV-2 感染或在登记时被发现 SARS-CoV-2 血清阳性的参与者被豁免筛查。
共有 361 名参加研究的参与者，其中 12.3%的人被发现血清阳性。检测到 14 例 SARS-CoV-2 病例（3.5%），其中 12 例发生在一个位于 SARS-CoV-2 地方性流行地区的单一学校。这 14 例病例导致与 COVID-19 相关的学校缺勤 84 天，而如果实施自我隔离而不是检测，则可能导致与 COVID-19 相关的缺勤 1775 天。
当使用快速 Ag-RDT 作为筛查工具，并允许经过培训的学生和教师进行拭子采集时，可以在大流行期间安全地继续进行学术常规活动。
