Weekly SARS-CoV-2 Sentinel Surveillance in Primary Schools, Kindergartens, and Nurseries, Germany, June‒November 2020

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Aug;27(8):2192-2196. doi: 10.3201/eid2708.204859. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Abstract

We investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in primary schools, kindergartens, and nurseries in Germany. Of 3,169 oropharyngeal swab specimens, only 2 were positive by real-time reverse transcription PCR. Asymptomatic children attending these institutions do not appear to be driving the pandemic when appropriate infection control measures are used.

Keywords: COVID-19; Germany; SARS-CoV-2; childcare; coronavirus disease; coronaviruses; kindergartens; nurseries; primary schools; respiratory infections; sentinel; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; surveillance; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Child
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Nurseries, Infant*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Schools
  • Sentinel Surveillance