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. 2021 Oct 1;70(39):1377-1378.
doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7039e3.

Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements - United States, July 1-September 4, 2021

Samantha E Budzyn, Mark J Panaggio, Sharyn E Parks, Marc Papazian, Jake Magid, M Eng, Lisa C Barrios

Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements - United States, July 1-September 4, 2021

Samantha E Budzyn et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. .

Abstract

Consistent and correct mask use is a critical strategy for preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (1). CDC recommends that schools require universal indoor mask use for students, staff members, and others in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) school settings (2). As U.S. schools opened for the 2021-22 school year in the midst of increasing community spread of COVID-19, some states, counties, and school districts implemented mask requirements in schools. To assess the impact of masking in schools on COVID-19 incidence among K-12 students across the United States, CDC assessed differences between county-level pediatric COVID-19 case rates in schools with and without school mask requirements.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Figures

FIGURE
FIGURE
Mean county-level change in daily number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 children and adolescents aged <18 years in counties (N = 520) with and without school mask requirements* before and after the start of the 2021–22 school year — United States, July 1–September 4, 2021 * Among 520 counties, 198 (38%) had a school mask requirement and 322 (62%) did not have a school mask requirement.
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References

    1. CDC. Science brief: community use of cloth masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2021. Accessed September 14, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking...
    1. CDC. Guidance for COVID-19 prevention in K–12 schools. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2021. Accessed September 14, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-...