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Association Between K-12 School Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreaks - Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona, July-August 2021

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021 Oct 1;70(39):1372-1373. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7039e1.

Abstract

CDC recommends universal indoor masking by students, staff members, faculty, and visitors in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools, regardless of vaccination status, to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (1). Schools in Maricopa and Pima Counties, which account for >75% of Arizona's population (2), resumed in-person learning for the 2021-22 academic year during late July through early August 2021. In mid-July, county-wide 7-day case rates were 161 and 105 per 100,000 persons in Maricopa and Pima Counties, respectively, and 47.6% of Maricopa County residents and 59.2% of Pima County residents had received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. School districts in both counties implemented variable mask policies at the start of the 2021-22 academic year (Table). The association between school mask policies and school-associated COVID-19 outbreaks in K-12 public noncharter schools open for in-person learning in Maricopa and Pima Counties during July 15-August 31, 2021, was evaluated.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arizona / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Masks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Organizational Policy*
  • Schools / organization & administration*