US: Less than 1% COVID-19 rate after school reopenings

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Less than 1% of teachers and students contracted the novel coronavirus in the US during the two-week period after schools reopened, according to a study.

Only 0.22% of students and 0.5% of staff had confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, according to a Brown University’s survey that is based on 573 schools in 46 states from Aug. 31 - Sept. 13.

The confirmed coronavirus infection rate among students was just 0.075%, while staff had a 0.15% rate, according to the study.

Despite parents and administrators' fears from potential COVID-19 infections inside school facilities, the study showed staff and students have taken precautions against the pandemic.

Among 451 responses, 73% of staff and 71% of students use masks and 71% conduct daily at-home screenings. Other precautions include increased ventilation, students staying in fixed cohorts, only groups of 25 individuals or less allowed to gather and students keeping 6 feet (183 centimeters) apart from each another.

The respondents also indicated that 42% check temperatures upon entering schools or buses, while 39% check for symptoms.

The US continues to remains the top country with the most coronavirus cases, having more than 6.9 million with deaths nearing 202,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.