A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of the role of schools in the SARS-CoV-2 second wave in Italy.

Autor: Gandini S; Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy., Rainisio M; AbaNovus srl, Sanremo, Italy., Iannuzzo ML; AULSS 9 Scaligera-Dipartimento di Prevenzione-UOC Medicina Legale, Italy., Bellerba F; Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milano, Italy., Cecconi F; Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133 Rome, Italy., Scorrano L; Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131 Padova, Italy.; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Lancet regional health. Europe [Lancet Reg Health Eur] 2021 Jun; Vol. 5, pp. 100092. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 26.
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100092
Abstrakt: Background: During COVID-19 pandemic, school closure has been mandated in analogy to its effect against influenza, but it is unclear whether schools are early COVID-19 amplifiers.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study in Italy during the second COVID-19 wave (from September 30, 2020 until at least February 28, 2021). We used databases from the Italian Ministry of Education, the Veneto region systems of SARS-CoV-2 cases notification and of schools' secondary cases tracing to compare SARS-CoV-2 incidence in students/school staff and general population and incidence across age groups. Number of tests, secondary infections by type of index case and ratio cases/ tests per school were estimated using an adjusted multivariable generalized linear regression model. Regional reproduction numbers R t were estimated from Italian Civil Protection daily incidence data with a method of posterior distribution using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm.
Findings: SARS-CoV-2 incidence among students was lower than in the general population. Secondary infections at school were <1%, and clusters of ≥2 secondary cases occurred in 5-7% of the analysed schools. Incidence among teachers was comparable to the population of similar age ( P  = 0.23). Secondary infections among teachers were rare, occurring more frequently when the index case was a teacher than a student (37% vs. 10%, P  = 0.007). Before and around the date of school opening in Veneto, SARS-CoV-2 incidence grew maximally in 20-29- and 45-49-years old individuals, not among students. The lag between school opening dates in Italian regions and the increase in the regional COVID-19 R t was not uniform. Finally, school closures in two regions where they were implemented before other measures did not affect R t decrease.
Interpretation: This analysis does not support a role for school opening as a driver of the second COVID-19 wave in Italy, a large European country with high SARS-CoV-2 incidence.
Funding: Fondazione MITE.
Competing Interests: LS received advisory honoraria on behalf of Astellas Pharmaceuticals and sits on the advisory board of Mitochondria in Motion, Inc.LS received SAB honoraria from Astellas Pharmaceuticals and sits on the SAB of Mitochondria in Motion, Inc. All other authors have no interests to declare.
(© 2021 The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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