A recent investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that teachers and school personnel may have been key contributors to COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, rather than students. This finding adds complexity to the ongoing national effort to reopen schools for in-person education.
The study focused on eight public elementary schools in a Georgia district during a winter surge in COVID-19 cases. The report, released on Monday, underscores the necessity of strict adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing protocols in educational settings, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize vaccinations for teachers and school staff.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC Director, stated, “The two main reasons for the spread of COVID-19 in these schools were inadequate physical distancing and mask adherence.” She noted that maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet was challenging due to high student numbers in classrooms and their layouts.
The investigation was conducted over 24 days between December 1, 2020, and January 22, 2021, involving approximately 2,600 students (representing 80% of the district’s elementary enrollment) and around 700 staff members. The study identified nine clusters of COVID-19 cases involving 13 educators and 32 students across six of the eight schools. Notably, two of these clusters were attributed to “probable educator-to-educator transmission,” which then spread to students, accounting for nearly half of the associated cases.
The study also examined the households of individuals diagnosed with school-related COVID-19 cases, finding that 18 out of 69 tested positive. “All nine transmission clusters involved less than ideal physical distancing, and five involved inadequate mask use by students,” the report indicated. These results suggest that educators can significantly influence in-school transmission rates, particularly when distancing and mask compliance are insufficient.
The CDC currently recommends five essential strategies for mitigating COVID-19 risks: universal mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, cleaning of facilities, and improving ventilation, alongside contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine measures. Until teachers and school staff are fully vaccinated, the study emphasizes the importance of adhering strictly to these safety protocols.
Walensky further highlighted the critical need to enhance vaccination efforts nationwide, prioritizing teachers and school staff as essential workers, in line with guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. A CDC spokesperson noted that the study found students sometimes wore masks improperly or not at all, despite a mask mandate and reported high compliance levels.
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In summary, the CDC study reveals that teachers are likely significant contributors to COVID-19 transmission within schools, underscoring the need for thorough safety measures and prioritization of vaccinations for school staff.