North Carolina public school teachers' contact patterns and mask use within and outside of school during the prevaccine phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Teachers are central to school-associated transmission networks, but little is known about their behavioral patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 700 North Carolina public school teachers in 4 districts open to in-person learning in November-December 2020 (pre-COVID-19 vaccines). We assessed indoor and outdoor time spent, numbers of people encountered at <6 feet ("close contacts"), and mask use by teachers and those around them at specific locations on the most recent weekday and weekend day.

Results

Nearly all respondents reported indoor time at home (98%) and school (94%) on the most recent weekday, while 62% reported indoor time at stores, 18% at someone else's home, and 17% at bars/restaurants. Responses

SUBMITTER: Powers KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8714247 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature