Is Symptom Screening Useful for Identifying COVID-19 Infection in School Settings? Georgia, USA. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swanson, Megan; Hast, Marisa; Burnett, Eleanor; Oraka, Emeka; Kimball, Anne; Morris, Elana; Marcet, Paula L.; Almendares, Olivia; Franklin, Rachel; Mehari, Lemlem; McCloud, Jazmyn; Kirking, Hannah L.; Tate, Jacqueline E.; Scott, Colleen
• Is Part Of: Journal of school nursing. Volume 37:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 503
• Page End: 512
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- symptoms -- epidemiology -- elementary school students -- high school students -- transmission -- screening testing -- school nurses; School health services -- Periodicals; School nursing -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/10598405211050393
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-8405

Abstract

This study's goal was to characterize the utility of symptom screening in staff and students for COVID-19 identification and control of transmission in a school setting. We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data for staff, students and associated household members in a Georgia school district exposed to COVID-19 cases who received RT-PCR testing and symptom monitoring. Among positive contacts, 30/49 (61%) of students and 1/6 (17%) of staff reported no symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Symptom sensitivity was 30% in elementary students and 42% in middle/high students. Fifty-three percent (10/19) of symptomatic positive contacts had at least one household member test positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared with 50% (10/20) of asymptomatic positive contacts. The absence of symptoms in children is not indicative of a lack of SARS-CoV-2 infection or reduced risk of infection for associated household members. Testing all close contacts of people with COVID-19 in schools is needed to interrupt transmission networks.