SEROCoV-Schools

The aim of this longitudinal study (i.e. including follow-up over time) was to assess the degree and methods of transmission of COVID-19 in schools and early childhood establishments.

It also sought to determine the extent to which primary schools and crèches contributed to community transmission of the virus in the canton of Geneva.

What were the objectives?

to describe the dynamics of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus among children aged between 1-2 and 6-7 years old
to assess the risk of introducing the virus into children's homes
to determine the extent to which attendance at nurseries and schools contributed to community transmission of the virus.

What did the study consist of?

surveillance of the appearance of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection throughout the school year, using serological tests and questionnaires.
an investigation component if one or more cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection (clusters) appeared within a class.

Who took part?

A total of around 550 people in three crèches (10 groups) and two primary schools (14 classes), including:

350 children aged 1-2 to 6-7
100 adults from the teaching staff
100 members of the children's households (if tested positive)

What will the results be used for?

The results obtained are useful for :

implement an infection control policy in schools and nurseries
reduce the risk of infection among children and those around them
inform public health debates and decisions

Publications

More info

What studies are we conducting?

Specchio

The Specchio (“mirror” in Italian) study aims to better understand and monitor the health status of the Geneva population over time.

Bus Santé

Bus Santé was launched in 1992 and is a cross-sectional study conducted each year with a thousand new participants.

SEROCoV-KIDS

The aim of the SEROCOV-KIDS study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and development of children and adolescents in the Canton of Geneva.

Specchio-COVID19

To help manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the HUG Unit of Population Epidemiology (UEP) has conducted several seroprevalence studies in the Canton of Geneva since spring 2020.