A new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that personal classes at K-12 schools do not appear to lead to an increase in COVID-19 when compared to areas that teach online only .
The CDC study noted that in the week beginning December 6, cases of coronavirus among the general population in provinces where K-12 schools were opened for personal learning were similar to the rates in provinces that were only online.
“CDC recommends that K-12 schools close the last institutions after all other mitigation measures have been used, and that the first should reopen when they can do so safely,” the authors of the report wrote.
On Dec. 7, about 62 percent of the K-12 school districts taught in person or partially offered, but according to CDC, reports of outbreaks at schools were limited.
Between March 1 and December 12, nearly 3 million cases of COVID-19 were reported in the United States among children, adolescents, and young adults, the report said.
The analysis found that the number of positive COVID-19 cases was lower among children aged 10 years and younger compared to older children and young adults.
According to the CDC, nearly 60 percent of the cases in young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, while children between the ages of 14 and 17 were responsible for 16 percent of the cases.
Children between the ages of 11 and 13 years accounted for 8 percent of the cases, and children aged 5 to 10 years accounted for 11 percent of the cases. Children 4 years and younger accounted for 7.4 percent of the cases.
The smaller number of cases among younger children suggests that the risk for COVID-19 introduction and transfer in child care centers and primary schools may be “less” than the reopening of high schools and higher education institutions, the authors write.
The data do not indicate that the greater number of cases among adults was preceded by increases among children or adolescents, the report found.
“Schools provide a structured environment that can support compliance with critical mitigation measures to prevent and delay the spread of COVID-19,” the authors wrote.
“When community transfer is higher, cases should be expected in schools, and as with any group setting, schools can contribute to the transfer of COVID-19, especially if mitigation measures such as universal and proper masking are not implemented or followed,” they added.
The report found that the number of cases among young adults was higher than in other age groups during the autumn and summer, which was prior to increases among other age groups, ‘indicating that young adults may contribute more to the transmission of the community than younger children. ”