1. Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Outbreaks Associated with Child Care Facilities - Salt Lake City, Utah, April-July 2020.
- Author
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Lopez AS, Hill M, Antezano J, Vilven D, Rutner T, Bogdanow L, Claflin C, Kracalik IT, Fields VL, Dunn A, Tate JE, Kirking HL, Kiphibane T, Risk I, and Tran CH
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Betacoronavirus isolation & purification, COVID-19, COVID-19 Testing, Child, Child, Preschool, Cities epidemiology, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Contact Tracing, Coronavirus Infections diagnosis, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, Utah epidemiology, Young Adult, Child Day Care Centers, Coronavirus Infections epidemiology, Coronavirus Infections transmission, Disease Outbreaks, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Pneumonia, Viral transmission
- Abstract
Reports suggest that children aged ≥10 years can efficiently transmit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1,2). However, limited data are available on SARS-CoV-2 transmission from young children, particularly in child care settings (3). To better understand transmission from young children, contact tracing data collected from three COVID-19 outbreaks in child care facilities in Salt Lake County, Utah, during April 1-July 10, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed to explore attack rates and transmission patterns. A total of 184 persons, including 110 (60%) children had a known epidemiologic link to one of these three facilities. Among these persons, 31 confirmed COVID-19 cases occurred; 13 (42%) in children. Among pediatric patients with facility-associated confirmed COVID-19, all had mild or no symptoms. Twelve children acquired COVID-19 in child care facilities. Transmission was documented from these children to at least 12 (26%) of 46 nonfacility contacts (confirmed or probable cases). One parent was hospitalized. Transmission was observed from two of three children with confirmed, asymptomatic COVID-19. Detailed contact tracing data show that children can play a role in transmission from child care settings to household contacts. Having SARS-CoV-2 testing available, timely results, and testing of contacts of persons with COVID-19 in child care settings regardless of symptoms can help prevent transmission. CDC guidance for child care programs recommends the use of face masks, particularly among staff members, especially when children are too young to wear masks, along with hand hygiene, frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, and staying home when ill to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission (4)., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Mary Hill reports a grant from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, outside the submitted work. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.
- Published
- 2020
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