Table 2.
Distribution of Infection Control Interventions Implemented in Massachusetts Public Schools With Any In-Person Instruction
| Infection Control Intervention | Districts, No. | Students, No.a | Staff, No.a | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Districts | ≥6-ft Distancing | ≥3-ft Distancing | All Districts | ≥6-ft Distancing | ≥3-ft Distancing | ||
| School modelb | |||||||
| High on-campus enrollment | 90 | 186 587 | 122 925 | 55 289 | 27 415 | 18 880 | 8123 |
| Lower on-campus enrollment | 161 | 329 413 | 260 544 | 62 375 | 71 975 | 58 160 | 11 740 |
| Elementary, middle, and high school all in same model | 188 | 434 679 | 319 728 | 101 667 | 82 907 | 64 118 | 16 823 |
| Universal maskingc | |||||||
| Among all staff | 251 | 516 000 | 383 469 | 117 665 | 99 390 | 77 040 | 19 863 |
| Among all students | 251 | 516 000 | 383 469 | 117 665 | 99 390 | 77 040 | 19 863 |
| Physical distancing | |||||||
| ≥6 ft | 194 | 383 469 | 383 469 | … | 77 040 | 77 040 | … |
| ≥3 ft | 48 | 117 665 | … | 117 665 | 19 863 | … | 19 863 |
| Other (4–5 ft) | 9 | 14 866 | … | … | 2487 | … | … |
| Enhanced cleaning protocold | 218 | 426 686 | 335 351 | 76 469 | 78 290 | 62 521 | 13 282 |
| Cohorting (any) | 214 | 464 208 | 348 973 | 100 751 | 88 264 | 69 486 | 16 605 |
| Mandatory symptom screens before entering school buildings | 223 | 470 887 | 359 517 | 99 670 | 91 428 | 72 832 | 16 533 |
| Ventilation interventionse | 205 | 415 989 | 325 921 | 75 331 | 76 539 | 60 891 | 13 189 |
| Surveillance testing | 5 | 6908 | 6180 | 728 | 2307 | 2181 | 126 |
| Universal vaccination policyf | 251 | 516 000 | 383 469 | 117 665 | 99 390 | 77 040 | 19 863 |
| District demographic variablesg | |||||||
| Children aged 5–17 y in poverty, % | 10.47 | 10.24 | 12.13 | … | … | … | |
| Student race, % | |||||||
| White | 65.26 | 65.10 | 64.09 | … | … | … | |
| Black | 6.97 | 7.36 | 5.76 | … | … | … | |
| Asian | 7.58 | 7.91 | 6.34 | … | … | … | |
| Other | 4.23 | 4.32 | 3.909 | … | … | … | |
| Hispanic | 15.99 | 15.33 | 19.93 | … | … | … | |
Data represent no. (%) of students or staff, unless otherwise specified.
High on-campus enrollment is defined as districts with an average of ≥80% of their total enrolled students participating in on-campus instruction throughout the time period. Lower on-campus enrollment is defined as districts with an average of <80% of enrolled students participating in on-campus instruction.
During the study period, universal masking among staff and students in grades 2 and higher was a prerequisite for approval to open schools, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Many districts opted to require (69.7%) or strongly recommend (26.3%) masking among students in younger grade levels.
Cleaning protocols were variably defined but were recorded if the district reported any enhanced protocols beyond usual practices.
Ventilation interventions were highly heterogeneous and included requirements to open windows, purchase of high-efficiency particulate air filters, plans for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades, and plans to move classrooms to outdoor spaces.
Universal influenza vaccination for all students was mandated in the state of Massachusetts during the fall of 2020. The requirement was later waived owing to low rates of influenza during the 2020–2021 influenza season.
Demographic variables obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics at the district level [18].