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Reopening Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Overview and Rapid Systematic Review of Guidelines and Recommendations on Preventive Measures and the Management of Cases

Author

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  • Giuseppina Lo Moro

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Tiziana Sinigaglia

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Bert

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
    AOU City of Health and Science of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Armando Savatteri

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Maria Rosaria Gualano

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Roberta Siliquini

    (Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
    AOU City of Health and Science of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy)

Abstract

Given the limited evidence of school closure effectiveness in containing the pandemic and the consequences for young people, reopening schools with appropriate measures is essential. This overview aimed to describe the main measures planned for the 2020–2021 academic year within the WHO European Region. A rapid systematic review of scientific databases was also performed. The websites of the government, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education of European Region countries were searched through 1 October for official documents about the prevention and management of suspected cases/confirmed cases in primary and secondary schools. To find further suggestions, a rapid systematic review was conducted through 20 October searching Pubmed, Scopus, and Embase. There were 23 official documents. France, Luxembourg, Malta, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Spain, and San Marino were considered. Performing the rapid review, 855 records were identified and 7 papers were finally selected. The recommendations mostly agreed. However, there was no consensus on the criteria for the return to school of students that tested positive, and the flexibility between attendance at school and remote education for high-risk children often varied. School closure was commonly considered as the very last resort for COVID-19 control. Studies are required to evaluate the impact of different recommendations during this autumn term.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppina Lo Moro & Tiziana Sinigaglia & Fabrizio Bert & Armando Savatteri & Maria Rosaria Gualano & Roberta Siliquini, 2020. "Reopening Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Overview and Rapid Systematic Review of Guidelines and Recommendations on Preventive Measures and the Management of Cases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8839-:d:452639
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baron, E. Jason & Goldstein, Ezra G. & Wallace, Cullen T., 2020. "Suffering in silence: How COVID-19 school closures inhibit the reporting of child maltreatment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Steimle, Lauren N. & Sun, Yuming & Johnson, Lauren & Besedeš, Tibor & Mokhtarian, Patricia & Nazzal, Dima, 2022. "Students’ preferences for returning to colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A discrete choice experiment," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PB).
    3. Flavia Beccia & Andrea Di Pilla & Francesco Andrea Causio & Bruno Federico & Maria Lucia Specchia & Carlo Favaretti & Stefania Boccia & Gianfranco Damiani, 2022. "Narrative Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic’s First Two Years in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Lili Li & Araz Taeihagh & Si Ying Tan, 2023. "A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Panagis Galiatsatos & Vanya Jones & Jacqueline Bryan & Meghan Brown & Olivia Banks & Brittany Martin & Megan Collins & Catherine Ling & Mindi B. Levin & Audrey Johnson & Alicia Wilson & Annette Anders, 2023. "The Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps: A Medical–Community Collaboration Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-8, January.
    6. Derek G. Shendell & Juhi Aggarwal & Maryanne L. F. Campbell & Lauren N. Gonzalez & Elizabeth Kaplun & Koshy Koshy & Thomas I. Mackie, 2021. "Fall 2020 COVID-19 Needs Assessment among New Jersey Secondary School Educational Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Ana Lourenço & Fernando Martins & Beatriz Pereira & Rui Mendes, 2021. "Children Are Back to School, but Is Play Still in Lockdown? Play Experiences, Social Interactions, and Children’s Quality of Life in Primary Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, November.

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