Overburdened and under-reported. A retrospective study of COVID-19 school reporting within District 5-2, Georgia
Abstract
Covid-19 is an infectious disease that continues to affect vulnerable population such as school age children. In Georgia, per OCGA 31-12-2, all cases of COVID-19 are considered reportable, including clusters of cases and contacts, and school systems are considered mandatory reporters. In addition to reporting individual cases and contacts to public health, school systems were also asked to report aggregate data weekly through a secure survey. The retrospective cross-sectional study compared using descriptive statistics COVID-19 data that was reported through passive surveillance and outbreaks identified by public health epidemiology staff through that surveillance process and the aggregate weekly report data submitted to state public health by the school systems from August 2020-May 2021. From August 2020-May 2021, 4,612 number of school aged children (5-17) were reported as cases within District 5-2's 13 counties through Georgia’s passive reportable disease system. Through the passive surveillance system, 21 outbreaks in schools were documented. During this time frame, aggregate data was submitted weekly by school systems and data shows that there were reporting discrepancies between the two surveillance systems. Under-reporting of Covid-19 outbreaks in school settings during the 2020-2021 school year is large gap due to the burden placed amongst school and public health staff. The difficulties surrounding the reporting accuracy may be related to a multitude of issues such as limited public health and school staffing shortages as well as utilizing outdated data processes. The improvement of reporting can assist with prevention and education opportunities along with proper documentations of similar contagious respiratory illnesses.
Keywords
COVID-19, Disease Reporting, Schools
Overburdened and under-reported. A retrospective study of COVID-19 school reporting within District 5-2, Georgia
Covid-19 is an infectious disease that continues to affect vulnerable population such as school age children. In Georgia, per OCGA 31-12-2, all cases of COVID-19 are considered reportable, including clusters of cases and contacts, and school systems are considered mandatory reporters. In addition to reporting individual cases and contacts to public health, school systems were also asked to report aggregate data weekly through a secure survey. The retrospective cross-sectional study compared using descriptive statistics COVID-19 data that was reported through passive surveillance and outbreaks identified by public health epidemiology staff through that surveillance process and the aggregate weekly report data submitted to state public health by the school systems from August 2020-May 2021. From August 2020-May 2021, 4,612 number of school aged children (5-17) were reported as cases within District 5-2's 13 counties through Georgia’s passive reportable disease system. Through the passive surveillance system, 21 outbreaks in schools were documented. During this time frame, aggregate data was submitted weekly by school systems and data shows that there were reporting discrepancies between the two surveillance systems. Under-reporting of Covid-19 outbreaks in school settings during the 2020-2021 school year is large gap due to the burden placed amongst school and public health staff. The difficulties surrounding the reporting accuracy may be related to a multitude of issues such as limited public health and school staffing shortages as well as utilizing outdated data processes. The improvement of reporting can assist with prevention and education opportunities along with proper documentations of similar contagious respiratory illnesses.
