Thread by @smartrestartaps

1/ CDC revises guidance on 3 feet and 6 feet... A 🧵 stitching together so many updates today!

nytimes.com/2021/03/19/sci…

2/ A recent study in Boston found no significant differences in the # of infections in school districts in Massachusetts that adopted a 3-foot rule, when compared with those that required 6 feet of distance.

But there are problems with study. A few here:

https://twitter.com/DiseaseEcology/status/1371346026355851266

3/ In reality, both 3 feet and 6 feet guidelines are arbitrary. Small airborne particles — that can be inhaled — travel either distance easily.

The farther away you are, the less likely you are to breathe in another's exhaled breath (and virions.)
tinyurl.com/2nzc67vr

4/ More distance is clearly associated with reducing risk.

https://twitter.com/PrasadKasibhat1/status/1372742428822798339?s=20

Reducing capacity DOES reduce the probability/risk of COVID-19's presence in each classroom, plus there's more uncontaminated air available per person and less emissions.

https://twitter.com/HuffmanLabDU/status/1372309665887911936

5/ One of the CDC's featured studies found that closer distance led to clusters of COVID-19 infection — in elementary schools. The outbreaks in this case study occurred <6 feet and were linked to when kids/teachers weren't masked (AKA indoor lunch).

cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…

6/ New info also this week that kids COVID-19 cases are WAY under-reported.

CDC's serology study found kids cases undercounted by 12x. NEW NoVA study ➡️ 17x undercount in our region.
➡️ Arlington confirmed cases: .5% kids
➡️ Study estimated: 8.5% kids

https://twitter.com/smartrestartaps/status/1372592386627530752?s=20

7/ With variants, still reason for caution... Our schools JUST started hybrid and still lack adequate testing and safe lunch plans. APS saw more than 2 dozen positive COVID cases w/ in-person students just in first 3 weeks. Classes quarantined already.

https://twitter.com/MadsAlbertsen85/status/1372789115746361351?s=20

8/ CDC school guidance now relaxes minimal distancing for elementary schools to 3 ft — with strict precautions such as 😷. (3 feet has always been the floor in VA, FYI.)

In HIGHEST red zone, CDC says older kids➡️ 6 ft apart w/o cohorts. In orange zone, suggests 3 ft + cohorts.

9/ In APS, >30% of rooms don't have minimal code ventilation for outdoor air at full occupancy. They've cut corners for years on old 🏫. Spent our $ on new 🏰.

Worst rooms still need 2 HEPA cleaners.

In MS & HS, there aren't cohorts; classes change/share air. No buffer time.

10/ Any changes to increase occupancy would make other mitigations much more critical, including better masks, outdoor lunch, cohorting, improving ventilation/filtration, and implementing a good surveillance testing program. Also, are they ready to trace close contacts w/i 6 ft?

11/ The CDC reaffirmed community spread remains an important consideration. Less distancing could be fine when rates are very low. But more distancing needed when COVID-19 spread is high.

This was our first week in a while where we hit 🟧. 🎉
We want county stats to keep ⬇️.

12/ CDC released new reports with the guidance...

Salt Lake ES report: Low transmission with mask use and strict mitigations.
📌 4 of 5 school spread events happened with <6 ft distance in class and lunch.
📌 Kids took the virus home to families.
tinyurl.com/bnvv3axw

13/ Florida schools report: More COVID-19 in schools w/o mandatory masks. Also:
📌 Kid rates rise w/ community rates and in-person attendance.
📌 20% outbreaks from sports & activities, not class
📌 Data is missing: 49,284 close contacts never got tested.
tinyurl.com/rwu8muuw

14/ Missouri schools report: Schools had low transmission when implementing strategies including mask mandates, physical distancing, and increased ventilation.
📌 93% decreased occupancy in rooms w/worst airflow
📌 27% utilized >6 ft distance
tinyurl.com/45vddw7b

15/ CDC survey reports parents and kids trying to manage online school/working at home are more stressed out.

Finding: Community-wide actions to reduce COVID-19 incidence and support mitigation strategies in schools are needed. (Thanks Captain Obvious.)
tinyurl.com/y9ak2tnb

16/ 👏 Finally, we are happy to see CDC delete poor guidance: The references to plexiglass "pandemic theater" desk shields are now gone. They gave an illusion of safety but increased risks where used.

(Sadly, APS ignored experts and wasted $$ on plexi.)

https://twitter.com/smjevnikar/status/1366758592095940610

17/ We'll be pouring over all the new data and reports, but those are a few of the things that have caught our attention today and in the past week. Enjoy the links!

Let's keep working together to END this pandemic. We think the finish line is in sight, but we can't let up yet.