SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Risk Perception, Behaviour and Preventive Measures at Schools in Berlin, Germany, during the Early Post-Lockdown Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hommes, Franziska; Loon, Welmoed van; Thielecke, Marlene; Abramovich, Igor; Lieber, Sascha; Hammerich, Ralf; Gehrke-Beck, Sabine; Linzbach, Elisabeth; Schuster, Angela; Busche, Katja von dem; Theuring, Stefanie; Gertler, Maximilian; Martínez, Gonzalo; Richter, Joachim; Bergmann, Clara; Bölke, Alisa; Böhringer, Falko; Mall, Marcus; Rosen, Alexander; Krannich, Alexander; Keller, Jan; Bethke, Norma; Kurzmann, Marco; Kurth, Tobias; Kirchberger, Valerie; Seybold, Joachim; Mockenhaupt, Frank P.; Group, BECOSS Study

doi:10.3390/ijerph18052739

Cited by 27 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…14,33,35 Although the seroprevalence differed among the three studies, authors reported comparable seroprevalence in groups of children not attending school (0.5% versus 1%, and 1.4% versus 2.7%, respectively, for children attending in-person, or staying at home), 14,33 and adults who did not have occupational contact with children or COVID-19-positive patients (7.7% for daycare staff and 5.5% for the comparator adult group, 35 suggesting that exceptional schooling did not boost SARS-CoV-2 spread in the analyzed settings). In line with these observations, low seroprevalence reported in three additional cross-sectional studies adds up to the indication that schools did not develop into silent hotspots for viral transmission during the first wave of the pandemic, 15,30,34 likely due to the successful implementation of extensive preventive measures. In this regard, it is noteworthy mentioning two studies reporting seroprevalence in students from a small city in north France and from a large community school in Santiago, Chile.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Seroprevalence In Educational Settings (Serosurveys)supporting

confidence: 55%

“…Fifteen studies reported SARS-CoV-2 point prevalence in a total of 112,131 subjects, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][30][31][32] including one study providing data collected during two rounds of testing within the COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey. 23 A total of 326 coronavirus infections were detected.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Positivity Rates In Educational Settings (Screening Studies)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the school setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Martinoli

Vecchia

Raimondi

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background. The contribution of children to viral spread in schools is still under debate. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the school setting. Methods: Literature searches from April, 2021 and repeated on May, 15th 2021 yielded a total of 1088 publications: screening, contact tracing and seroprevalence studies. MOOSE guidelines were followed and data analyzed using random-effects models. Results: From screening studies involving more than 120,000 subjects, we estimated 0.31% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.05-0.81%) SARS-CoV-2 point prevalence in schools. Contact tracing studies, involving a total of 112,622 contacts of children and adults, showed that onward viral transmission was limited (2.54%; 95%CI 0.76-5.31). Young index cases were found to be 74% significantly less likely than adults to favor viral spread (Odds Ratio [OR]=0.26; 95%CI 0.11-0.63) and were less susceptible to infection (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.25-1.47). Finally, from seroprevalence studies, with a total of 17,879 subjects involved, we estimated that children are 43% significantly less likely than adults to test positive for antibodies (OR=0.57; 95%CI: 0.49-0.68). In conclusion, testing all subjects in schools, independently of symptoms, students less likely than adults favor viral spread and SARS-CoV-2 circulation in schools was found to be limited.

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Section: Sars-cov-2 Seroprevalence In Educational Settings (Serosurveys)supporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Sars-cov-2 Positivity Rates In Educational Settings (Screening Studies)mentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the school setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Martinoli

Vecchia

Raimondi

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…So far, only a few studies have investigated teachers' fears of contracting SARS-CoV-2. A cross-sectional study in summer 2020 in Berlin, Germany revealed that about half of the school staff showed a medium to a very strong fear of infection, and 59% reported a moderate to a very high perceived risk of infection [13]. However, this study comprised only 112 teachers at 24 schools in Berlin, mirroring only a limited number of teachers' opinions, which can largely depend on their respective schools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

School Teachers’ Self-Reported Fear and Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey in Germany

Weinert

Thronicke

Hinse

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases peaking and health systems reaching their limits in winter 2020/21, schools remained closed in many countries. To better understand teachers’ risk perception, we conducted a survey in Germany. Participants were recruited through various associations and invited to take part in a cross-sectional COVID-19-specific online survey. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Factors associated with teachers’ fears of contracting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were evaluated with an adjusted multivariable regression analysis. The median age of the 6753 participating teachers was 43 years, and 77% were female. Most teachers worked in high schools (29%) and elementary schools (26%). The majority of participants (73%) feared contracting SARS-CoV-2 at school, while 77% intended to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. Ninety-eight percent considered students to pose the greatest risk. Female and younger teachers were significantly more anxious to get infected and teachers who opposed the re-opening of schools had significantly higher odds of being more anxious (p < 0.001). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to describe teachers’ risk perception of COVID-19 and their attitudes towards vaccinations in a nationwide survey. The anxiety correlates with the COVID-19 protection measures demanded and appears to be a driving factor rather than rational logic.

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“…This was a cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal study among students and school staff, including teachers, educators and facility staff, from 24 schools in Berlin (one class per school) and related household members. A first round of examinations of the same students and school staff had taken place in June 2020 [14]. The present second round was conducted between 2 and 16 November 2020.…”

Section: Study Design Setting and Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in school settings during the second COVID-19 wave: a cross-sectional study, Berlin, Germany, November 2020

et al. 2021

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Background School attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic is intensely debated. Aim In November 2020, we assessed SARS-CoV-2 infections and seroreactivity in 24 randomly selected school classes and connected households in Berlin, Germany. Methods We collected oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples, examining SARS-CoV-2 infection and IgG antibodies by RT-PCR and ELISA. Household members self-swabbed. We assessed individual and institutional prevention measures. Classes with SARS-CoV-2 infection and connected households were retested after 1 week. Results We examined 1,119 participants, including 177 primary and 175 secondary school students, 142 staff and 625 household members. SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in eight classes, affecting each 1–2 individuals. Infection prevalence was 2.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–5.0; 9/338), 1.4% (95% CI: 0.2–5.1; 2/140), and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.3–3.8; 14/611) among students, staff and household members. Six of nine infected students were asymptomatic at testing. We detected IgG antibodies in 2.0% (95%CI: 0.8–4.1; 7/347), 1.4% (95% CI: 0.2–5.0; 2/141) and 1.4% (95% CI: 0.6–2.7; 8/576). Prevalence increased with inconsistent facemask-use in school, walking to school, and case-contacts outside school. For three of nine households with infection(s), origin in school seemed possible. After 1 week, no school-related secondary infections appeared in affected classes; the attack rate in connected households was 1.1%. Conclusion School attendance under rigorously implemented preventive measures seems reasonable. Balancing risks and benefits of school closures need to consider possible spill-over infection into households. Deeper insight is required into the infection risks due to being a schoolchild vs attending school.

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SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Risk Perception, Behaviour and Preventive Measures at Schools in Berlin, Germany, during the Early Post-Lockdown Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cited by 27 publications

References 25 publications

SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the school setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the school setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

School Teachers’ Self-Reported Fear and Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey in Germany

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in school settings during the second COVID-19 wave: a cross-sectional study, Berlin, Germany, November 2020

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