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SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Risk Perception, Behaviour and Preventive Measures at Schools in Berlin, Germany, during the Early Post-Lockdown Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Franziska Hommes

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
    Authors contributed equally.)

  • Welmoed van Loon

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
    Authors contributed equally.)

  • Marlene Thielecke

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Igor Abramovich

    (Clinic for Anesthesiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sascha Lieber

    (Clinic for Anesthesiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
    Medical Directorate, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Ralf Hammerich

    (Clinical Quality and Risk Management, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sabine Gehrke-Beck

    (Institute of General Practice, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Elisabeth Linzbach

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Angela Schuster

    (Institute of General Practice, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Katja von dem Busche

    (Department of Pediatric Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Stefanie Theuring

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Maximilian Gertler

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Gabriela Equihua Martinez

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Joachim Richter

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Clara Bergmann

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Alisa Bölke

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Falko Böhringer

    (Labor Berlin—Charité Vivantes Services GmbH, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Marcus A. Mall

    (Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Alexander Rosen

    (Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Alexander Krannich

    (Clinical Study Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Jan Keller

    (Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Norma Bethke

    (Medical Directorate, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Marco Kurzmann

    (Medical Directorate, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Tobias Kurth

    (Institute of Public Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Valerie Kirchberger

    (Medical Directorate, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Joachim Seybold

    (Medical Directorate, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Frank P. Mockenhaupt

    (Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • BECOSS Study Group

    (The members of the BECOSS study group are acknowledged at the end of the article.)

Abstract

Briefly before the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Berlin, Germany, schools closed in mid-March 2020. Following re-opening, schools resumed operation at a reduced level for nine weeks. During this phase, we aimed at assessing, among students and teachers, infection status, symptoms, individual behaviour, and institutional infection prevention measures. Twenty-four primary and secondary school classes, randomly selected across Berlin, were examined. Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and capillary blood samples were collected to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR) and specific IgG (ELISA), respectively. Medical history, household characteristics, leisure activities, fear of infection, risk perception, hand hygiene, facemask wearing, and institutional preventive measures were assessed. Descriptive analysis was performed. Among 535 participants (385 students, 150 staff), one teenager was found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (0.2%), and seven individuals exhibited specific IgG (1.3%). Compared to pre-pandemic times, screen time (e.g., TV, gaming, social media) increased, and the majority of primary school students reported reduced physical activity (42.2%). Fear of infection and risk perception were relatively low, acceptance of adapted health behaviors was high. In this post-lockdown period of low SARS-CoV-2 incidence in Berlin, individual and school-level infection prevention measures were largely adhered to. Nevertheless, vigilance and continued preventive measures are essential to cope with future pandemic activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Franziska Hommes & Welmoed van Loon & Marlene Thielecke & Igor Abramovich & Sascha Lieber & Ralf Hammerich & Sabine Gehrke-Beck & Elisabeth Linzbach & Angela Schuster & Katja von dem Busche & Stefanie, 2021. "SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Risk Perception, Behaviour and Preventive Measures at Schools in Berlin, Germany, during the Early Post-Lockdown Phase: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2739-:d:512932
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Isphording, Ingo E. & Lipfert, Marc & Pestel, Nico, 2020. "School Re-Openings after Summer Breaks in Germany Did Not Increase SARS-CoV-2 Cases," IZA Discussion Papers 13790, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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