High school COVID-19 testing programs in Utah associated with 3.2% positivity and preserved activities

This observational study evaluated two COVID-19 testing programs implemented in Utah high schools from November 30, 2020, to March 20, 2021. The study population included 59,552 high school students who were tested. No specific comparator or control group was reported for the analysis.

The main results showed that among the students tested, 1,886 had a positive result, representing a positivity rate of 3.2%. The programs were associated with the completion of approximately 95% of scheduled high school athletic events. An estimated 109,752 in-person instruction student-days were saved during the study period. No effect sizes, p-values, or confidence intervals were reported for these outcomes.

Safety and tolerability data, including adverse events and discontinuations, were not reported. Key limitations include the observational design, the absence of a reported comparator group, and the lack of primary outcome specification. The study did not report funding sources or conflicts of interest. The findings suggest a potential association between testing programs and maintaining school operations, but the observational nature precludes establishing causality.