Effectiveness of School Closures During COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

Background of the Review

Researchers from the UK conducted a thorough examination on the impact of school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 12, 2020. By March 18, 2020, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported that approximately 107 countries had enacted national school closures aimed at reducing social interactions and interrupting virus transmission.

Study Details

The review, spearheaded by researchers from University College London, assessed the effectiveness of school closures alongside other social distancing measures with respect to infection and transmission rates. Published in the *Lancet Child and Adolescent Health*, the review analyzed over 600 articles sourced from three electronic databases, ultimately including only sixteen in the final assessment, of which nine were peer-reviewed studies.

Findings on School Closures

The review highlighted that school closures were implemented rapidly in regions such as China and Hong Kong in early 2020 as part of a broader strategy to control COVID-19. However, no definitive data was found to support the efficacy of these closures in terms of controlling infection rates.

Insights from Previous Outbreaks

Analysis of studies from the SARS outbreak in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore indicated that school closures did not significantly contribute to controlling infection spread. Conflicting results arose from modeling studies related to SARS, with some indicating a decrease in transmission due to school closures, while others claimed that transmission risk in classrooms was relatively low.

COVID-19 Modelling Studies

Modeling studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested that national school closures could be part of a more extensive array of social distancing measures. These studies estimated that such closures might prevent only two to four percent of potential deaths, a figure that pales in comparison to the effectiveness of other social distancing approaches.

Considerations for Policymakers

The researchers pointed out that the advantages of school closures during COVID-19 may not be substantial, as social interactions among children and between children and adults can continue through informal childcare and social gatherings outside of school. They urged policymakers to consider the ambiguous evidence surrounding school closures and recommended exploring various combinations of social distancing strategies.

Conclusion and Reference

This review underscores the need for careful consideration of the evidence when implementing school closures as a public health measure during pandemics.

Written by Ranjani Sabarinathan, MSc

For a range of personal protective equipment, visit www.medofsupply.com

Reference: Viner RM, Russell SJ, Croker H et al. (2020). School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including COVID-19: a rapid systematic review. *Lancet Child Adolesc Health*. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30095-X

Image by Violinka from Pixabay