Temperature screening and detection of Covid‐19 in school‐aged children: A retrospective cohort study assessing the efficacy of temperature screening in schools

Abstract

AbstractIn July 2020, Corinth School District was the first in Mississippi to return to the classroom setting. Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) protocols were developed to maintain the safety of students. These included mandatory masking, seating charts, desk spacing, sanitizing protocols, lunch within classrooms, alteration of extracurriculars, cancellation of assemblies, and quarantine policies. Temperature screenings were also performed. Students registering as febrile would undergo Covid‐19 testing. To evaluate the efficacy of temperature scanning as a surveillance method for Covid‐19 in the school setting, deidentified data was obtained from the Corinth School District. Overall incidence and grade level incidence of Covid‐19 were calculated in children attending school from July 27, 2020 to September 25, 2020. Data were examined for a correlation between documented fevers and Covid‐19 positivity. Reports provided by the school district were investigated for positive test groupings signifying a school‐related outbreak. Of 28 children with fevers at school, zero tested positive for Covid‐19. Twenty‐six children tested positive for Covid‐19; none were febrile at school. The incidence of Covid‐19 in our population during the study period was 1.03%. Incidence in elementary students was 0.34%, 0.93% in middle school, and 2.51% in high school students. There were no school outbreaks during the study period. Both relative risk and odds ratio were calculated as equal to zero (0.00). Temperature scanning is not a sensitive screening method for Covid‐19 in school children.