Improving Surveillance and Epidemic Response in Ohio Childcare Settings

Darcy A. Freedman (), Timothy H. Ciesielski, Owusua Yamoah, Elaine A. Borawski, Kristie R. Ross, Nora L. Nock, Eun Kyung Lee, Anastasia Dimitropoulos, Sonia Minnes, Kimberly Burkhart, Callie Ogland-Hand and Daniel J. Tisch
Additional contact information
Darcy A. Freedman: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Timothy H. Ciesielski: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Owusua Yamoah: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Elaine A. Borawski: Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Kristie R. Ross: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Nora L. Nock: Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Eun Kyung Lee: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Anastasia Dimitropoulos: Schubert Center for Child Studies, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Sonia Minnes: Schubert Center for Child Studies, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Kimberly Burkhart: University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Callie Ogland-Hand: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Daniel J. Tisch: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-9

Abstract: At the start of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the risk of cases in childcare programs was unknown. Thus, a rapid-response research approach was launched in Ohio childcare settings. Passive surveillance data from a state-operated incident reporting system were evaluated to estimate the number of COVID-19 cases from 15 August 2020 to 1 January 2021. Additionally, active surveillance with self-administered reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests were conducted among staff at 46 childcare programs. Finally, six zoom-based focus groups with program administrators were used to gain feedback. Staff and children in childcare settings contributed 0.38% and 0.15% of the COVID-19 cases in Ohio during this timeframe, respectively. RT-PCR testing identified 3 unrecognized cases (0.88% of tests), and all occurred when the statewide positivity rate was >5%. Focus groups revealed that access to affordable cleaning supplies, masks, and reliable staffing were critical. Perhaps most importantly, we conclude that expanding the incident reporting system to include a childcare census would allow for the tracking of future health problems with highly valuable incidence rate estimations.

Keywords: COVID-19; childcare; infectious disease control; occupational health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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