Longitudinal Testing for Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Shedding of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Day Care Centers in Hesse, Germany.

Background: With the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ongoing in Europe in June 2020, day care centers were reopened in the state of Hesse, Germany, after the lockdown. The role young children play in the dynamics of the transmission was unknown.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study over 12 weeks and 2 days (18 June 2020-10 September 2020) to screen attendees and staff from day care centers in the state of Hesse, Germany, for both respiratory and gastrointestinal shedding of SARS-CoV-2.