TY - JOUR
T1 - Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - Why Australian schools should be prioritised to stay open
AU - Koirala, Archana
AU - Goldfeld, Sharon
AU - Bowen, Asha C.
AU - Choong, Catherine
AU - Ryan, Kathleen
AU - Wood, Nicholas
AU - Winkler, Noni
AU - Danchin, Margie
AU - Macartney, Kristine
AU - Russell, Fiona M.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - In 2020, school and early childhood educational centre (ECEC) closures affected over 1.5 billion school-aged children globally as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Attendance at school and access to ECEC is critical to a child's learning, well-being and health. School closures increase inequities by disproportionately affecting vulnerable children. Here, we summarise the role of children and adolescents in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and that of schools and ECECs in community transmission and describe the Australian experience. In Australia, most SARS-CoV-2 cases in schools were solitary (77% in NSW and 67% in Victoria); of those that did progress to an outbreak, >90% involved fewer than 10 cases. Australian and global experience has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is predominantly introduced into schools and ECECs during periods of heightened community transmission. Implementation of public health mitigation strategies, including effective testing, tracing and isolation of contacts, means schools and ECECs can be safe, not drivers of transmission. Schools and ECEC are essential services and so they should be prioritised to stay open for face-to-face learning. This is particularly critical as we continue to manage the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AB - In 2020, school and early childhood educational centre (ECEC) closures affected over 1.5 billion school-aged children globally as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Attendance at school and access to ECEC is critical to a child's learning, well-being and health. School closures increase inequities by disproportionately affecting vulnerable children. Here, we summarise the role of children and adolescents in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and that of schools and ECECs in community transmission and describe the Australian experience. In Australia, most SARS-CoV-2 cases in schools were solitary (77% in NSW and 67% in Victoria); of those that did progress to an outbreak, >90% involved fewer than 10 cases. Australian and global experience has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is predominantly introduced into schools and ECECs during periods of heightened community transmission. Implementation of public health mitigation strategies, including effective testing, tracing and isolation of contacts, means schools and ECECs can be safe, not drivers of transmission. Schools and ECEC are essential services and so they should be prioritised to stay open for face-to-face learning. This is particularly critical as we continue to manage the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107770270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jpc.15588
DO - 10.1111/jpc.15588
M3 - Article
C2 - 34101922
AN - SCOPUS:85107770270
SN - 1034-4810
VL - 57
SP - 1362
EP - 1369
JO - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
JF - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
IS - 9
ER -