A Look at DESE's Cited Sources: Footnotes #3, #6, and #59 - COVID-19 in schools – the experience in NSW

DESE Claim 1 (footnote #3): “Furthermore, based on available data and effective implementation of critical health and safety practices, the rate of in-school transmissions has been low” (same claim as #1-2, 4)

DESE Claim 2 (footnote #6): "Schools do not appear to have played a major role in COVID-19 transmission. [...] In a case study from New South Wales Australia, after 18 cases were found in schools (12 in high schools and 6 in primary schools), only 0.3% of student contacts were infected (1 in 695 individuals in 10 high schools and 1 in 168 individuals in primary schools). No teachers or staff were infected."

DESE Claim 3 (footnote #59): "In a case study from New South Wales Australia, after 18 cases were found in schools (12 in high schools and 6 in primary schools), only 0.3% of student contacts were infected (1 in 695 individuals in 10 high schools and 1 in 168 individuals in primary schools). No teachers or staff were infected."

Cited Source: National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) (2020). COVID-19 in schools – the experience in NSW. Available at http://ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/NCIRS%20NSW%20Schools%20COVID_Summary_FINAL%20public_26%20April%202020.pdf

Peer Reviewed?: No - government report, peer review for publication in process

Study Methodology:  case study with contact tracing follow-up

Notes: Report involves 18 cases of COVID-19 in 15 schools and their close contacts. Again, a small sample size. "No teacher or staff member contracted COVID-19 from any of the initial school cases. One child from a primary school and one child from a high school may have contracted COVID-19 from the initial cases at their schools."

This Australian report's definition of close contact is different than the one I've seen being used most in the USA (the report calls 2 hours in the same room or 15 minutes face to face close contact, most in the USA say only the latter). Additionally, close contact isolation protocols were used: "Once the close contacts are identified, they are required to isolate themselves at home for 14 days from the date of last exposure to the infectious case, watch for any symptoms and if they become unwell, go to the doctor or a fever clinic to get a nose/throat swab to test for COVID-19". Notably, 12 of the 18 cases were in high schools.

Schools during this study were likely at lower occupancy than usual. "on 23 March 2020 the NSW Premier advised that although schools remained open, parents were encouraged to keep their children at home for online learning." This is critical, since MA is looking at a full-capacity reopen, without urging parents to keep children home to learn online. 

DESE Claim 1 Supported?: Extremely limited - low number of cases studied, and in schools functioning at less than full-capacity 

DESE Claim 2 Supported?: Again, extremely limited support. Low number of cases studied, and schools were not at full capacity during the study (parents encouraged to keep kids home).

DESE Claim 3 Supported?: Yes.