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Schools under mandatory testing can mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Diederichs

    (a Department of Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany;)

  • Reyn van Ewijk

    (a Department of Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany;)

  • Ingo E. Isphording

    (b Institute of Labor Economics, 53113 Bonn, Germany;; c CESifo, 81679 Munich, Germany;)

  • Nico Pestel

    (b Institute of Labor Economics, 53113 Bonn, Germany;; c CESifo, 81679 Munich, Germany;; d Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, Maastricht University, 6211 LM Maastricht, the Netherlands)

Abstract

We provide causal evidence on the impact of opening schools in a situation under virus variants and substantial vaccination rates in the adult population. We show that schools under regular and mandatory rapid testing of the studentship mitigated the growth in case numbers leading to Germany’s fourth pandemic wave in autumn 2021. Our results have important implications for the design of future nonpharmaceutical interventions to mitigate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and comparable future diseases. Keeping schools open under mandatory testing rules can provide a means to track infection rates. Our results suggest that school closures, given substantial economic and societal costs, should be thought of as the “last resort,” even if inevitable at some point.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Diederichs & Reyn van Ewijk & Ingo E. Isphording & Nico Pestel, 2022. "Schools under mandatory testing can mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119(26), pages 2201724119-, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:119:y:2022:p:e2201724119
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    Cited by:

    1. Emanuele Amodio & Michele Battisti & Antonio Francesco Gravina & Andrea Mario Lavezzi & Giuseppe Maggio, 2023. "School‐age vaccination, school openings and Covid‐19 diffusion," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 1084-1100, May.
    2. Herold, Daniel & Klotz, Phil-Adrian & Schäfer, Jan Thomas, 2025. "Munich goes viral: Measuring the impact of the Oktoberfest on COVID-19 infection rates using difference-in-differences," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. Reo Takaku & Naohisa Shobako & Taisuke Nakata, 2024. "Three Years of COVID-19-related School Restrictions and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Japan," CARF F-Series CARF-F-585, Center for Advanced Research in Finance, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo.
    4. Apel, Johannes & Rohde, Niklas & Marcus, Jan, 2023. "The effect of a nighttime curfew on the spread of COVID-19," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    5. Isphording, Ingo E. & Diederichs, Marc & van Ewijk, Reyn & Pestel, Nico, 2021. "Der eindämmende Effekt von Schulen auf die Verbreitung von SARS-CoV-2," IZA Standpunkte 101, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Patzina, Alex & Collischon, Matthias & Kroh, Jacqueline, 2023. "The Gendered Effects of COVID-19 on Well-being: A Household Perspective," SocArXiv h2fa7, Center for Open Science.
    7. Natalia Danzer & Sebastian Garcia-Torres & Max Friedrich Steinhardt & Luca Stella, 2024. "Women in political power and school closure during COVID times," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 39(120), pages 765-810.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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