While schools have been experiencing an outbreak of Covid-19 cases in recent days, an American study shows that they would not ultimately be places of acceleration of the epidemic.
Few transmissions at school
Closed during the first confinement, the schools remained open during the second confinement. Today, with the possibility of a third confinement which seems to be more and more present, the question of closing schools is posed again. Fear ? Whether they are high places of transmission of Covid-19.
In order to verify the foundations of this fear, which concerns all countries, American researchers have brought together the results of studies carried out in the United States and in Europe. The findings of this large study were published on January 26 in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) .
By analyzing the results of several studies conducted in the United States, the researchers found that the reopening of schools had not resulted in widespread transmission of the virus. If there were clusters in schools, each time they concerned only a small number of people. On the other hand, the incidence of Covid-19 at school was always lower than with family and friends.
The importance of respecting barrier gestures
If, like the Société Française de Pédiatrie, this large study seems to favor face-to-face schooling during the pandemic, it emphasizes that the schools which have not observed the rapid spread of the virus are those which have respected a strict health protocol, with wearing a mask, regular hand washing and physical distancing.
In addition, the researchers insist on the importance of reducing class sizes, and limiting the practice of indoor sport and sports competitions to limit the spread of the virus.
