COVID‐19 Transmission during Transportation of 1st to 12th Grade Students: Experience of an Independent School in Virginia

Ramirez, Dana W.E.; Klinkhammer, Martin D.; Rowland, Leah C.

BACKGROUND: In‐school transmission of COVID‐19 among K‐12 students is low when mitigation layers are used, but the risk of acquiring COVID‐19 during school bus transportation is not well defined. Given the operational limitations of many school districts, more data is needed to determine what mitigation is required to keep COVID‐19 transmission low during bus transport. METHODS: An independent school in Virginia monitored 1154 students in grades 1 to 12 with asymptomatic PCR testing every 2 weeks from August 24, 2020 to March 19, 2021, during the highest community transmission. Fifteen buses served 462 students while operating at near capacity of 2 students in every seat, using a physical distancing minimum of 2.5 ft, universal masking, and simple ventilation techniques. RESULTS: A total of 39 individuals were present on buses during their COVID‐19 infectious period, which resulted in the quarantine of 52 students. Universal testing and contact tracing revealed no transmission linked to bus transportation. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a model for the safe operation of school buses while near capacity. COVID‐19 transmission can be low during student transport when employing mitigation including simple ventilation, and universal masking, at minimal physical distances and during the highest community transmission.