COVID-19 outbreaks in schools are not common with few students and teachers testing positive - and a very small number of close contacts contracting the virus.
New data published by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) last week looked at cases of COVID-19 since classrooms reopened in mid-August.
Researchers found that less than 0.1 percent each of pupils and staff members tested positive for the virus over the course of a month.
What's more, only about 0.2 percent of people who came into contact with a Covid patient later tested positive themselves.
The findings suggest that outbreaks in schools are not frequent and that Los Angles County was successful in fully reopening its schools safely.
New data found a total of 7,995 students out of 1.5 million, or 0.5%, and 1,193 staff out of 157,000, or 0.7%, have tested positive for COVID-19
Out of more than 30,000 close contacts of COVID-19 patients, just 63 went on to contact the virus, equivalent to 0.2%. Pictured: Students walk to their classrooms at a middle school in El Sereno, East Los Angeles, September 10
The LA County report looked at COVID-19 cases among students in grades K-12 and in staff members.
Between August 15 and September 13, 7,995 students and 1,193 staff tested positive for COVID-19.
With about than 1.5 million students in county schools and 175,000 staff that means 0.5 percent of children and 0.7 percent workers have contracted the virus since schools reopening.
'This is just slightly higher than the 0.4 percent rate of infection we experienced overall in the county,' LADPH Director Barbara Ferrer said at a press briefing, according to the Los Angeles Times.
'And, given the massive testing of asymptomatic individuals at schools, this very low rate of infection affirms the safety that's provided to students and staff on their campuses.'
Health officials say COVID-19 protocols followed by the schools are likely cause for the low numbers, including indoor
