Table 2 Summary of School Testing Benefits

1

Allows to identify the infected individuals earlier to reduce additional infections

2

It is less painful than hospitalization for those who would have been infected in the absence of testing

3

It can reduce pressures on different stakeholders, particularly mental pressures on parents and teachers

4

Asymptomatic cases, that are mainly among the younger ages and able to spread the virus, can only be detected through random testing

5

It enables schools to continue their operations with lower risks and uncertainty, which is important because as the pandemic continues, closure of schools may not be a long-term solution

6

without regular testing, co-infection or overlap between influenza and COVID-19 can create more chaos, particularly during the flu season when it will be difficult for parents or those who screen the children for symptoms, to identify most likely COVID-19 symptoms