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. 2023 Aug 8:11:1215678.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1215678. eCollection 2023.

Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022

Benedikt M J Lampl  1   2 , Patricia Schöberl  3 , Noah Atzenbeck  4 , Michael Erdl  4 , Nepomuk Dillitzer  4 , Jakov Wallbrecher  4 , Marcus Weigl  4 , Michael Sauer  4 , Parastoo Kheiroddin  3 , Jakob Niggel  5 , Richard Mauerer  6 , Andreas Ambrosch  7 , Michael Kabesch  3
Affiliations

Effects of infection control measures towards preventing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a German choir boarding school from March 2020 to April 2022

Benedikt M J Lampl et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Singing in a choir was associated with larger outbreaks in the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Materials and methods: We report on the effect and acceptance of various infection control measures on the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the world famous Domspatzen boys' choir from March 2020 to April 2022.

Results: In addition to basic general hygiene measures, systematic rRT-PCR testing and scientifically approved concepts of distancing during singing were applied. While single infections of choir members could not be avoided, singing-related outbreaks were not observed. Until the Omicron variant emerged, potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the school was limited to only one case. Incidences at the school were never higher than in the comparable general population until then. While the impact of the pandemic on daily life and singing was rated as severe, especially by staff members, most students agreed with the usefulness of protection measures and rated them as acceptable. Students viewed regular testing as the most important tool to increase safety in the school.

Discussion: A bundle of infection control measures including regular testing can prevent outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 even in the setting of choir singing. Measures are acceptable for choir members if they allow to continue with singing and performing.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; bundle strategy; choir singing; outbreaks; rRT-PCR pool-testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

JN was employed by MaganaMed GmbH. RM was employed by Synlab Weiden GmbH. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time course of legal regulation (Panel A) infection control measures (B), concerts (C), testing procedures (D) and SARS-CoV-2 cases in the domspatzen boarding school (E) and in the general population (F) during the first 2 years of the pandemic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Singing scheme of domspatzen singers. (A) Positioning scheme for the rehearsal Hall of the Domspatzen boarding school (distance between singers: 3 meters). Alternative positions of choir master: red and white (piano) dot; fixed position of singers: blue dots; (B) positioning for singing at the mess at the Regensburg cathedral, December 2020; (C) positioning for a concert at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg in autumn of 2020.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Results of questionnaire on the impact and acceptance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 measures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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