Prevalence and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Childcare Facilities: A Longitudinal Study

Haag, L.; Blankenburg, J.; Unrath, M.; Grabietz, J.; Kahre, E.; Galow, L.; Schneider, J.; Dalpke, A.; Lueck, C.; Buettner, L.; Armann, J. P.

Objectives Previous data indicate that children might play a less crucial role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission than initially assumed. We conducted a study to gain further knowledge on prevalence, transmission and spread of SARS-CoV-2 among preschool children, their parents and caretakers. Study design Children, their parents and care givers in 14 childcare facilities in Dresden, Saxony/ Germany were invited to participate in the KiTaCoviDD19-study between July 2020 and January 2021. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was assessed up to 4 times during the study period in all participating adults and personal characteristics as well as epidemiological information of personal SARS-CoV-2 history were obtained. Stool viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed every 2-4 weeks in all participating children. Results 318 children, 299 parents and 233 childcare workers were enrolled. By January 2021 11% of the participating adults were detected seropositive, whereas the rate of SARS-CoV-2 positive children was 6.8%. Overall, we detected 17 children with SARS-Cov-2 viral shedding in 8 different childcare facilities. In 4 institutions there occurred a maximum of three connected cases in children. About 50% of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children could not be connected to a secondary case within our study population. Conclusion This study could not provide evidence for a relevant asymptomatic (silent) spread of SARS-CoV-2 in childcare facilities, neither in a low nor a high prevalence setting. This finding adds to the evidence that childcare and educational settings do not play a crucial role in driving the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.