Corona study gives hope: the risk of transmission of infections in daycare centers is low - under one condition

Created: 01/05/2022, 10:23 AM

From: Katarina Amtmann

A study on the risk of infection in daycare centers gives rise to hope (symbol image).

© Monika Skolimowska / dpa / dpa-Bildfunk

A corona study by Würzburg researchers gives hope: Accordingly, the risk of infection transmission in daycare centers is low.

Scientists have recommendations.

Würzburg - Würzburg researchers have tested daycare children for Corona for months.

Now there are results and recommendations for action.

A key statement according to

: Kita care is possible with regular tests.

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Corona study in daycare centers: risk of transmission of infections low - provided that one condition is met

Around 600 children up to six years of age and their caregivers have been regularly tested for corona infection since autumn 2020.

Since then, the scientists have reported the first results twice.

As the

reports, the study has now been published scientifically.

An important finding: the risk of transmission of infections in daycare centers is low.

The prerequisite: regular tests.

The researchers therefore recommend two corona tests per week, the first on Monday.

Results should be available within 24 hours.

The highest possible participation rate is important, it continues.

Accordingly, at least half of the children and staff should be tested.

Corona study in Würzburg daycare centers: "The testing should be as stressful as possible"

However, further results and recommendations emerged from the study. According to this, it was already clear from the preliminary data that mouth rinsing tests were better accepted by children than nasal swabs. As the

reports, the scientists therefore recommend: "The testing should be as stressful as possible in order to achieve high and sustainable acceptance." Mouthwash tests or lollipop tests are particularly suitable. However, nasal swabs would also have “good-medium acceptance” if parents did them at home.

What the study also shows: regular corona tests reduce the perceived psychological stress caused by the corona pandemic.

This was shown in the first part of the study.

Some children were tested twice a week, others only when they had symptoms.

The regular tests gave a feeling of security, says the co-author of the study, Andrea Streng.

“In contrast to this, in the control group, in which all household members were only offered a test if they had symptoms of a cold, the psychological stress increased and the participants expressed less satisfaction”, quoted the

Streng.

Compulsory daycare test in Bavaria: Parents have to pay attention to this

From January 10th, children from the 1st birthday will have to test in Bavaria's daycare centers.

Lockdown: Corona study interrupted at the height of the second wave

What is also noticeable: over a period of twelve weeks in the past winter half-year, the scientists were only able to detect two infections in the people examined, according to the

.

"This shows a low infection rate among children in the first waves of infection of the pandemic," it says.

What should be noted, however: At the height of the second wave, the study had to be interrupted due to the lockdown.

What could also play a role in the future: Virus variants such as Omikron.

Recommendations may then have to be adjusted.

Any effects of the vaccinations have not yet been taken into account, as they were not yet available at the start of the study.