- In a survey, 25% of 664 adults who cared for children 17 years or younger stated at least one child receives free breakfast or lunch at school or daycare. Of this 25%, 34% of these respondents said if they could not get them during a 3-month school closure, problems would arise. 

Effects on child hunger 

- The benefits of school closure need to be weighed against the detriments of absent workers from the healthcare system. 
- For example, in the UK, it is estimated that about 30% of the healthcare workforce is the main carer for their children at home. Combined with an estimation of 10% absenteeism due to sickness in staff and 5% for other reasons during a pandemic, 45% of the healthcare workforce being absent can have very harmful effects. 

School closure effects on the healthcare workforce

- In the USA, it was estimated that the economic cost of school closure would be 6% of the GDP, or $2.7 million per 1000 people (data from 2009).
- However, because health costs may rise from more cases if school closures aren’t implemented, school closures may still be a cost-effective strategy

Economic costs from parents who have to stay home to support their kids during school closures

- Children from low-income families are more likely to be left alone, and will suffer from more behavioral and social problems.
- Studies show that declines in performance in education after summer break are greater for children from low-income and minority groups, and this will likely not be different for school closures due to a pandemic. 
- It was found that 93% of 91 low-income households would have serious financial problems if they had to stay home during a 3-month school closure.

Socioeconomic disparity in outcomes of school closure for low-income families

- Self-care (children being left at home on their own) is associated with increased underage drinking, drug use and adverse peer pressure. 
- Some studies have concluded that parents will overestimate their child’s ability to self-care. 

More children left to self-care due to school closures

- Economic Costs from Absenteeism 
- Effects on child hunger
- More children left to self-care
- Socioeconomic factors to consider
- School closure effects on the healthcare workforce

Santa Clara University

- Past school closures and their impacts 
- Downsides of school closures 
- Important aspects to consider in closing or reopening schools during a pandemic

Important takeaways of school closures from past influenza pandemics 

Cauchemez, S., Ferguson N.M., Wachtel C., Tegnell A., Saour G., Duncan B., Nicoll A. (2009, August). Closure of schools during an influenza pandemic. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 9(473-81). 

Closure of schools during an influenza pandemic

Downsides of School Closures 

- Impacts of lessened social distancing 
- Criteria for reopening schools 
- Difficulties in creating consistent national policy
- The age-specific transmission rate of the virus

Important aspects to consider in reopening schools during a pandemic 

Due to the novelty of COVID-19, many researchers have applied influenza pandemic preparedness plans of school closures to SARS-CoV-2 transmission prevention. In this study, the authors evaluate the impact of the COVID-19-related school closures on influenza A infection in Qatar. The study assesses the presence of respiratory viruses from nasopharyngeal swabs collected from Sidra Medicine, the main pediatric referral center in Qatar, before and after the first school closure on March 10.

Dramatic decrease of laboratory‐confirmed influenza A after school closure in response to COVID‐19

Historical instances of school closures—ranging from scheduled holidays and teacher strikes to reactive shutdowns across different regions—provide valuable data on their effectiveness in mitigating viral transmission. Analyzing these cases during various influenza pandemics and SARS outbreaks helps to assess the overall impact of school closures on disease spread.

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