76 - Assessing the Utilization and Impact of Weekly COVID-19 Testing in Middle and High Schools in Underserved Populations
Friday, April 28, 2023
5:15 PM – 7:15 PM ET
Poster Number: 76 Publication Number: 76.149
Sydney A. Reyes, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Summer M. Reyes, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; Tyler Walsh, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Jamee T. Shelley, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Humza Agha, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Tremayne Watterson, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States; Ana V. Torres, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Brittany Bonty, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Christina Evans, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; Jasmine Prater, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St.Louis, MO, United States; Samantha Hayes, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Edwardsville, IL, United States; Sara Malone, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; Ian Lackey, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Albert M. Lai, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; Julie A.. Neidich, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Stephanie Fritz, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Jason G. Newland, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
Clinical Research Coordinator Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions for students, teachers, and school communities, particularly in underserved communities of color like North St. Louis County. Different mitigation strategies have been proposed to help minimize these disruptions and keep school communities safe. We proposed offering weekly COVID-19 testing to school communities as one such way to help lower school transmissions. Objective: Identify the utilization and impact of COVID-19 weekly testing in North St. Louis County schools by students, staff, and their households. Design/Methods: A cluster randomized trial was conducted among 16 middle and high schools from five school districts in North St. Louis County to assess the impact of weekly COVID-19 testing. Eight schools were offered a saliva-based PCR test for the weekly COVID-19 screening testing from 6/721 to 5/29/22. Students, staff, and the household members of students/staff were eligible. Participants were provided saliva testing kits, and samples were collected before arrival at school once per week. The tests were performed at Washington University. Participants received negative results through email, and participants with positive results were notified via phone by a study physician. Results: A total of 574 individuals participated in weekly COVID-19 testing: 310 staff members (54%), 187 household members (33%), and 77 students (13%) (Table 1). The participants' demographics were 357 White and 150 Black (Table 1). The overall vaccination rate among weekly participants was 85% (86% staff, 86% household members, 83% students). A total of 9415 tests were performed in eight schools, with the greatest number of tests at one school district during the study being 3735 (Figure 1). Of the 90 positive tests, 11 (12%) were from household members, 50 (56%) from staff, and 29 (32%) from students. The greatest number of positives (21, 6.6%) occurred during the week of January 10, 2022 (Figure 2). Qualitatively, numerous participants mentioned how accessible and easy it was to test with us. They also shared how this testing gave them and their families peace of mind and comfort in knowing they could safely interact with their loved ones and their community, especially those at high risk.
Conclusion(s): The weekly testing was utilized by members of all five of our school districts, with the majority enrolled being staff, and it also made an impact. People received access to testing that would not have been otherwise easily accessible. Participants also found comfort and security in knowing their COVID-19 when interacting at school and in the broader St. Louis community.
.png)
