For The Lancet, school attendance is accelerating …

British scientific journal The Lancet published in the early days of last March a study in which they argue that reopening face-to-face classes, without the company of a strong, successful coronavirus mitigation campaign, may lead at “An acceleration of the coronavirus pandemic”, which would lead to more infections and deaths.

The article edited by epidemiologist Deepti Gurdasani of Queen Mary University in London and her team concluded that primary and secondary school closures in the UK were associated with “substantial reductions over time in the number of efficient reproduction ”of Covid-19.

“Although COVID-19 is unlikely to cause serious illness in children, estimates of the prevalence of prolonged symptoms of COVID based on the WHO infection survey suggest that 13% of older children from 2 to 10 years and 15% of those aged 12 to 16 at least one symptom persisting 5 weeks after a positive test ”, specified the specialists.

In this sense, experts have indicated that “It would be unwise to let the virus circulate among children, with the resulting risk for their families”, due to “uncertainty” about the long-term health effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

“Con la reapertura plena en un entorno de alta transmissión comunitaria, sin las salvaguardas adecuadas, se corre el riesgo de privar a muchos niños de la educación y la interacción social nuevamente, agravando las desigualdades existentes, pero, al contribuir a una altaariaión , too it provides fertile ground for the evolution of the virus and new variants, ”they concluded.

The Lancet survey summary

On February 22, 2021, the UK government announced that English schools would fully reopen on March 8. While returning to school as soon as possible is imperative for the education, social development and mental well-being and fitness of children, not enough has been done to make schools safer for students and the staff.

Without further mitigation, transmission is likely to increase, this time with more infectious and possibly more virulent variants, leading to more lockdowns, school closures and absenteeism. Even when schools were supposed to be fully open, at points of strong community transmission, 22% of high school students did not attend school due to their isolation. In some areas, attendance was as low as 61%.

Arguments that schools do not contribute to community transmission and that the overall risk to children of COVID-19 is very low mean that mitigation in schools has been a low priority. However, the evidence cited for these arguments has serious limitations.

Primary and secondary school closures have been associated with substantial reductions over time in the effective number of spawners (Rt) in many countries (including England) and at certain times.

Although COVID-19 is unlikely to cause serious illness in children, estimates of the prevalence of prolonged symptoms of COVID based on the ONS infection survey suggest that 13% of children aged 2 to 10 years and 15% of 12-16 year olds have at least one. symptom persisting 5 weeks after the positive test. Given the uncertainty about the long-term health effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it would be unwise to allow the virus to circulate among children, with the resulting risk to their families.

Complete reopening in an environment of strong community transmission without adequate guarantees risks again depriving many children of education and social interaction, exacerbating existing inequalities. By contributing to strong community transmission, it also provides fertile ground for the evolution of the virus and new variants.

Mitigation measures at multiple levels can significantly reduce the risk of transmission in schools and homes. In the panel, we summarize a set of recommendations consistent with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And they are practiced in many countries to reduce the risk of transmission in schools and lessen the impact of COVID-19 on children. and families. A detailed set of recommendations and an infographic are provided in the appendix. Making schools safer goes hand in hand with reducing transmission in the community and is essential for enabling schools to safely reopen and stay open. “