Preparing schools and nurseries for future pandemics
© HUG
A study conducted by the Geneva 玉美人传媒 Hospitals (HUG) and the 玉美人传媒 (UNIGE), in collaboration with EPFL and Johns-Hopkins 玉美人传媒, has analysed for the first time the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Geneva primary schools and nurseries in relation to the epidemiological situation in the general population. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the impact of the virus's circulation on the effectiveness of the health measures implemented in these establishments. The results can be read in .
In 2020, Switzerland, like the rest of the world, was hit by the sudden arrival of COVID 19. The government reacted with drastic measures, including the closure of schools, a controversial decision because of its impact on children's health, education and development. At the time, the data available was sparse, based on past influenza pandemics and ill-suited to the school context. Research teams from the HUG and the UNIGE quickly launched the SEROCoV-Schools study. The aim of this surveillance study was to gather epidemiological, virological and serological data to understand the spread of the virus in nurseries and in primary schools, its links with the epidemiological situation in the community, and its evolution through the different variants of the virus.
Useful measures when the epidemic risk is high
The study shows that when transmission of the virus in the population is high, sanitary measures in schools or nuseries (masks, ventilation, closure of establishments, etc.) have little effect. On the other hand, where there is a high risk of an epidemic but little virus circulation, they become decisive.
This observation reinforces the importance of a real-time reading of the situation, with a monitoring system to adapt measures. The authors stress the need for dynamic scientific monitoring to guide political decisions. To be effective, political decisions should be based on dialogue between scientists and politicians. Published in Nature Communications, this study lays a solid foundation for preparing schools for future pandemics, in Geneva as elsewhere.
A pioneering and unique study
SEROCoV-Schools monitored 336 children aged 1 to 7, 51 staff and their families in 40 Geneva classrooms and nurseries from March 2021 to June 2022. The data was cross-referenced with available population data for Geneva. Mathematical modelling was then used to explain the relationships between infections at school and in the community, and to simulate the effects of different scenarios.
21 Jul 2025