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Table 1 Summary of School Testing Challenges

From: Simulating preventative testing of SARS-CoV-2 in schools: policy implications

1

Significant number of tests should be performed to find a small number of infected positive cases

2

Tests may cause pain or discomfort, especially for children

3

Available tests have significant false-negative and false-positive rates that can cause confusion and stress

4

Tests may create a false sense of security among those tested

5

Regular testing in schools would be logistically challenging and requires additional resources, planning and operational burdens

6

Large-scale testing of students may add more pressures to local public health testing capacities and may increase overall testing waiting times

7

Tests are costly; more tests translate into more costs that need justification over the benefits they generate

8

The delay before test results are available can reduce testing effectiveness because the main goal of testing is to identify and isolate potential viral vectors and those in close contact with them

9

Public acceptance of mass testing particularly for younger kids in schools is low which may create push back

10

Privacy issues may arise in school testing, as subsequent follow up actions may disclose the identity of infected students