Friday, June 26, 2020

A Look at DESE's Cited Sources: Footnote #4 and #60 Cluster of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the French Alps, 2020

DESE Claim 1 (footnote #4): “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 #1-3)

DESE Claim 2 (footnote #60): "One infected student (9 years old) in the French Alps attended three schools while symptomatic; none of 112 contacts became infected."

Cited Source: Danis, K., Epaulard, O., Bénet, T., Gaymard, A., Campoy, S., Bothelo-Nevers, E., ... & Boudalaa, Z. (2020). Cluster of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the French Alps, 2020. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Available at https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa424/5819060

Peer Reviewed?: unclear

Study Methodology: case study with contact tracing

Notes: The sentence DESE likely latched on to about child transmission indicates that the one child who was infected at a resort in the French Alps did not pass the disease on to many others. "The fact that an infected child did not transmit the disease despite close interactions within schools suggests potential different transmission dynamics in children." That is a huge conclusion to attempt to draw from one case, especially since the child in question had other diseases at the same time. A single child not spreading a disease does not mean children in general do not spread the disease. The study also notes, "It is also possible that the very low viral load of the pediatric case and the subsequent lack of transmission might be related to his coinfection and the co-circulation of respiratory viruses." A child who has just COVID-19 may spread the virus differently than one who also has other infections. 

DESE Claim 1 Supported?: extremely limited (1 case does not make a rule).

DESE Claim 2 Supported?: Yes

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