After-action review of the Finnish advice-making process for school interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic

This focused after-action review (AAR), conducted by ECDC in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), investigated the use of evidence in the Finnish advice-making process for school interventions from December 2021 to January 2022, when the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was circulating and schools remained open. From March to May 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was circulating, and school closures were implemented in some areas for children over 12 years old. The Omicron variant reintroduced consideration of the policy option of closing schools for physical attendance at the beginning of 2022. The purpose of this AAR was to shed light on the advice-making processes during these vital weeks, when varying perspectives on school interventions were considered, by asking the question: How did the different key actors use evidence to inform advice on school interventions during these periods?