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. 2021 Sep;91(9):678-682.
doi: 10.1111/josh.13058. Epub 2021 Jul 20.

COVID-19 Transmission during Transportation of 1st to 12th Grade Students: Experience of an Independent School in Virginia

Dana W E Ramirez  1 , Martin D Klinkhammer  2 , Leah C Rowland  3
Affiliations

COVID-19 Transmission during Transportation of 1st to 12th Grade Students: Experience of an Independent School in Virginia

Dana W E Ramirez et al. J Sch Health. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Background: In-school transmission of COVID-19 among K-12 students is low when mitigation layers are used, but the risk of acquiring COVID-19 during school bus transportation is not well defined. Given the operational limitations of many school districts, more data is needed to determine what mitigation is required to keep COVID-19 transmission low during bus transport.

Methods: An independent school in Virginia monitored 1154 students in grades 1 to 12 with asymptomatic PCR testing every 2 weeks from August 24, 2020 to March 19, 2021, during the highest community transmission. Fifteen buses served 462 students while operating at near capacity of 2 students in every seat, using a physical distancing minimum of 2.5 ft, universal masking, and simple ventilation techniques.

Results: A total of 39 individuals were present on buses during their COVID-19 infectious period, which resulted in the quarantine of 52 students. Universal testing and contact tracing revealed no transmission linked to bus transportation.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a model for the safe operation of school buses while near capacity. COVID-19 transmission can be low during student transport when employing mitigation including simple ventilation, and universal masking, at minimal physical distances and during the highest community transmission.

Keywords: COVID-19; disease mitigation; disease transmission; school bus; school transport.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dana W.E. Ramirez, MD and Leah C. Rowland, MD disclose the following nonfinancial conflicts of interest. Drs. Ramirez and Rowland are members of the Virginia American Academy of Pediatrics school re‐opening task force and assist with advising schools on school re‐opening during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Drs. Ramirez and Rowland declare they have no additional nonfinancial conflicts of interest. Martin Klinkhammer, MD, MPH declares no nonfinancial conflicts of interest. All authors of this article declare they have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Example of Bus Seating. X = Non sibling student. S = Sibling student.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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