Identifying risk factors for COVID-19 cluster infections in schools in the Republic of Korea: a case-control study
10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0351
- Author:
Jihyun CHOI
1
;
Seongju CHOI
;
Baigu LEE
;
Young-Joon PARK
;
Sang Eun LEE
Author Information
1. Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
2024;15(4):375-382
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:No study has yet analyzed risk factors to determine whether students withconfirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections may affect students at neighboringschools. Therefore, this study aimed to determine risk factors for COVID-19 transmission among schools within a community in the Republic of Korea.
Methods:An epidemiological investigation was conducted among 696 students and schoolstaff members at 3 schools where COVID-19 clusters began on October 15, 2021. Interviews, visithistory surveys, a facility risk assessment, and closed-circuit television were used to identifyrisk factors. The statistical significance of risk factors was also evaluated.
Results:We confirmed 129 cases (18.5%) among the individuals exposed to COVID-19 at the 3schools, many of whom had a history of visiting the same multi-use facilities. The odds ratioof having visited multi-use facilities such as karaoke rooms was 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 1.03–3.50); the number of visits to a karaoke room and the visit durations were significantly higher among confirmed cases than non-confirmed cases (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively).
Conclusion:Having a history of visiting karaoke rooms often and spending a long time there were risk factors for COVID-19 infection and inter-school transmission. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the status of multi-use facilities frequently visited by adolescents and consider incorporating them into the scope of school quarantine to prevent infectious diseases at schools in a community.
