{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T15:17:05Z","timestamp":1778771825325,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778544000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100005595","name":"University of California","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100005595","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000050","name":"National Heart Lung Blood Institute","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["U01 HL138689"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U01 HL138689"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000050","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center","award":["NIEHS P30 ES006694"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIEHS P30 ES006694"]}]},{"name":"Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health","award":["K01HL168014"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["K01HL168014"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>This commentary describes the real-world challenges special subject teachers faced while implementing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) mitigation strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Kindergarten- 5th grade classrooms in a school district in Pima County, Arizona, during the 2021 to 2022 academic year and argues for better support for special subject teachers. While teachers in all classroom types experienced challenges, special subject teachers (eg, special education, physical education, and English as a Second Language [ESL]) faced additional barriers to implementing recommended CDC COVID-19 guidelines. In special education classrooms, the constant need for close physical assistance made social distancing from students impossible. Additionally, mask mandates posed choking and saliva-related safety concerns for students, making it difficult for teachers to enforce the mandate. For ESL teachers, implementing the mask mandate meant losing out on using visemes and visual cues, which are an integral part of ESL instruction. In physical education, rigorous disinfection routines between students led to the rapid degradation of gym equipment and heightened concerns about chemical exposure. We reflect on the challenges and modifications these teachers faced, highlighting classroom-specific examples and illustrative quotes from key informant interviews. Future policies and guidance that better support the health of teachers and effective infection control across various classroom environments will benefit from educator collaboration and input.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/annweh\/wxag033","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T12:28:43Z","timestamp":1777638523000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Special subject teachers need more support to mitigate respiratory viral spread in schools: insights from interviews during COVID-19"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"70","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-0198-2896","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nana Adwoa Akuffo","family":"Amoh-Asante","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community, Environment & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona , 1295 N. Martin Ave. A233, Tucson, AZ 85724 ,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ashley A","family":"Lowe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, P.O. Box 245030 , Tucson, AZ 85724 ,","place":["United States"]},{"name":"Advanced Nursing Practice and Science Division, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, 1305 N Martin Ave , Tucson, AZ 85721 ,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amanda M","family":"Wilson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community, Environment & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona , 1295 N. Martin Ave. A233, Tucson, AZ 85724 ,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"920","DOI":"10.17507\/jltr.1503.25","article-title":"The perspectives of students on the role of instructors' facemasks in hindering the oral communication skills of students learning English at PYD, PSAU in the KSA","volume":"15","author":"Abdallah","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Lang Teach Res"},{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1080\/08856257.2020.1783801","article-title":"It means everything\u2019: special educators' perceptions of relationships and relational competence","volume":"36","author":"Aspelin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur J Spec Needs Educ."},{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijheh.2020.113592","article-title":"Chemicals inhaled from spray cleaning and disinfection products and their respiratory effects. A comprehensive review","volume":"229","author":"Clausen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Hyg Environ Health."},{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B4","author":"National Center for Education Statistics","year":"2025"},{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1494463","article-title":"Trends of respiratory viruses and factors associated with severe acute respiratory infection in patients presenting at a university hospital: a 6-year retrospective study across the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"13","author":"De Arcos-Jim\u00e9nez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"2026051411010756000_wxag033-B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.940718","article-title":"Teachers' dissatisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: factors contributing to a desire to leave the profession","volume":"13","author":"Gillani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front 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