(KGFW) – Nebraska Medicine said yesterday that a pilot project with Omaha Public Schools has revealed much higher COVID-19 infection and case rates among students and staff than what’s currently being reported. Two-and-a-half times higher for staff and six times higher for students. The project also found almost 10 times the number of cases per population than observed through community testing in the surrounding county. Dr. Jana Broadhurst said in the news release that the data shows COVID-19 infection in school-aged children is “dramatically underestimated.” Three schools in a predominately minority area that experiences poverty were studied. Classroom density was reduced to 25%. 100% of teachers and 12% of students participated. OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan said, “This study shows how things like wearing masks, reducing student density and improving air exchange systems can decrease COVID-19 transmission in schools.”
