TracK- Transmission of Coronavirus in Kids

To refine our understanding of COVID-19 transmission and predict impact of different public health interventions, we have adapted an existing study of scarlet fever transmission in schools, to understand more about  transmission of SARS-CoV2 between children and between children and adults.  In contrast to adults, syndromic surveillance for COVID-19 in children is not helpful, as disease is largely asymptomatic. Sequential intensive testing of oral/nasopharyngeal samples is the ideal method to quantify or rule out transmission events, since we do not at present know if seroconversion is a reliable marker of exposure in asymptomatic children.   Exploiting statutory notification systems, the study will explore the events that follow when a child is diagnosed with SARS-CoV2, both in the child, the environment around the child, and their contacts from school, and at home. Through a sequence of individual school cohort studies, we are using intense longitudinal sampling of children and the environment to address the following questions :1. Do symptomatic or asymptomatic children transmit the virus to each other or to adults in schools or household? Or are adults more likely to be the source of infection in children? 1. Do symptomatic or asymptomatic children transmit the virus to each other or to adults in schools or household? Or are adults more likely to be the source of infection in children?