Research and analysis

COVID-19: transmission in school settings

These reviews aim to identify and examine evidence on the transmission of COVID-19 within school settings, and the effectiveness of school-based interventions in reducing transmission.

Documents

Transmission of COVID-19 in school settings and interventions to reduce the transmission: a rapid review

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Transmission of COVID-19 in school settings and interventions to reduce the transmission: a rapid review (update 1)

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Transmission of COVID-19 in school settings and interventions to reduce transmission: a rapid review (update 2)

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Details

These evidence reviews were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the COVID-19 rapid evidence service and were initially published on another website. Their content has not changed from their initial publication. Some reviews were published before October 2021 by Public Health England (PHE).

Three rapid reviews (an original and 2 updates) aimed to identify and examine direct evidence on the transmission of COVID-19 within school settings, and on the effectiveness of school-based interventions in reducing transmission. These comprise:

  • an initial review – initially published by PHE on 28 July 2020, with research up to 18 June 2020 and including 9 studies (3 epidemiological and 6 modelling studies)
  • a first update review – initially published by PHE on 26 September 2020, with research up to 27 July 2020 and including 13 studies (9 observational and 4 modelling studies)
  • a second update review – initially published by PHE on 9 April 2021, with research up to 1 February 2021 and including 56 studies (40 observational, one semi-experimental, and 15 modelling studies)
Published 28 July 2020