Evaluation of "Test to Return" after COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Massachusetts Public School District

Autor/inn/en	Nelson, Sandra B.; Brenner, Isaac Ravi; Homan, Elizabeth; Lee, Sarah Bott; Bongiorno, Christine; Pollock, Nira R.; Ciaranello, Andrea
Titel	Evaluation of "Test to Return" after COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Massachusetts Public School District
Quelle	In: Journal of School Health, 93 (2023) 10, S.877-882 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Nelson, Sandra B.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0022-4391
DOI	10.1111/josh.13357
Schlagwörter	COVID-19; Pandemics; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Communicable Diseases; Screening Tests; Instructional Program Divisions; Immunization Programs; Massachusetts + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Psychiatrische Symptomatik; Contagious disease; Contagious diseases; Communicable disease; Infektionskrankheit; Screening-Verfahren; Immunisierung; Master-Studiengang
Abstract	Background: Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, students with COVID-19 may end isolation after 5 days if symptoms are improving; some individuals may still be contagious. Rapid antigen testing identifies possibly infectious virus. We report on a test-to-return (TTR) program in a Massachusetts school district to inform policy decisions about return to school after COVID-19. Methods: During the 2021-2022 Omicron BA.1 surge, students with COVID-19 could return on day 6-10 if they met symptom criteria and had a negative rapid test; students with positive rapid tests and those who declined TTR remained isolated until day 11. TTR positivity rates were compared by grade level, vaccination status, symptom status, and day of infection. Results: 31.4% of students had a positive TTR rapid test; there were no differences by grade or vaccination status. Ever-symptomatic students were more likely to have a positive rapid test (75/174 [43.1%] vs 18/104 [17.3%]). For ever-symptomatic students, TTR positivity decreased by day of infection. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of students may still be contagious 6 days after onset of COVID-19 infection. TTR programs may increase or reduce missed school days, depending on when return is otherwise allowed (day 6 or 11). The impact of TTR programs on school-associated transmission remains unknown. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01