In contrast, the subsequent COVID-19-related school closures occurring in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 school years were predominantly reactive (i.e., occurring after infection had affected students, staff, or both). In this study, we describe trends in reactive COVID-19–related K–12 school closures (COVID-SCs) in the United States during July 27, 2020–June 30, 2022. We conducted daily systematic online searches during July 27, 2020–June 30, 2022, to identify public announcements of unplanned, illness-related K–12 school closures in the United States. DiscussionOur study describes COVID-19 school closures in the United States as school systems and communities grappled with ongoing disease transmission during a rapidly evolving pandemic. Those limitations probably lead to underestimation of the number and duration of school closures.

Source: New York Times December 13, 2023 23:08 UTC