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Schools under Mandatory Testing Can Mitigate the Spread of SARS-CoV-2

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  • Isphording, Ingo E.

    (IZA)

  • Diederichs, Marc

    (University of Mainz)

  • van Ewijk, Reyn

    (University of Mainz)

  • Pestel, Nico

    (Maastricht University)

Abstract

We use event-study models based on staggered summer vacations in Germany to estimate the effect of school re-openings after the summer of 2021 on the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Estimations are based on daily counts of confirmed coronavirus infections across all 401 German counties. Our results are consistent with mandatory testing contributing to containment of cases by uncovering otherwise undetected (asymptomatic) cases. Case numbers in school-aged children spike in the first week after the summer breaks but then turn not significantly different from zero. Case numbers in prime-aged age groups gradually decrease after school re-openings, arguably as a result of detected clusters through the school testing. The age group 60+ remains unaffected by the school re-openings. We conclude that the combination of mandatory testing and compulsory school attendance can provide an unbiased and near-complete surveillance of the pandemic. Thus, under certain conditions open schools can play a role in containing the spread of the virus. The trade-off between reducing contacts and losing an important monitoring device has to be taken seriously when re-considering school closures as a nonpharmaceutical intervention under the current circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Isphording, Ingo E. & Diederichs, Marc & van Ewijk, Reyn & Pestel, Nico, 2021. "Schools under Mandatory Testing Can Mitigate the Spread of SARS-CoV-2," IZA Discussion Papers 14844, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14844
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Danzer, Natalia & Garcia-Torres, Sebastian & Steinhardt, Max F. & Stella, Luca, 2023. "Women in Political Power and School Closure during COVID Times," IZA Discussion Papers 15975, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; schooling; education; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    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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