In a May 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at a high school in Jerusalem, infection rates were higher among younger students (grades 7-9) compared to older students (grades 10-12). Rates peaked in the 9th grade (20 cases in one class, 13 in two others) and 7th grade (14 cases in one class). Among the 25 infected teachers, 7 were exposed to these four highly infected classes. Although 7th-9th graders had classes in a separate wing from 10th-12th graders, all students shared the schoolyard and public spaces.

COVID-19 Case Distribution by Grade in the May 2020 Jerusalem School Outbreak

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

66/153 (43%) of student cases and 19/25 (76%) of staff reported symptoms of COVID-19 (leading symptoms were cough, headache, fever, sore throat, and myalgia). There was one emergency room visit and no hospitalizations. Although classes were supposed to maintain social distancing, a school inspection reported crowded classes allowing only 1.1-1.3 $m^2$ per student. As of June 30, 100/153 (65.4%) of students and 16/25 (64%) of staff have recovered (as defined by two negative PCR tests). Additionally, 60% of asymptomatic cases and 37% of symptomatic cases recovered within 25 days.

Epidemiological Analysis of COVID-19 in High School Students

Stein-Zamir Chen , Abramson Nitza , Shoob Hanna , Libal Erez , Bitan Menachem , Cardash Tanya , Cayam Refael , Miskin Ian . A large COVID-19 outbreak in a high school 10 days after schools’ reopening, Israel, May 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(29):pii=2001352. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.29.2001352

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