4 Back to School Safety Tips for COVID 19

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic breached the United States in full swing, every K-12 public school in the country had closed.[1] Since then, as of February 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tallied some 506,000 deaths across more than 28.2 million cases of COVID-19.[2] Considering the myriad benefits of traditional in-person learning, more and more schools across the nation are opening their doors for at least some face-to-face class time.[3]

Here’s Our Checklist for Returning to School After COVID:

1. Bring Plenty of Masks

Studies have found that wearing masks can reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by as much as 79%.[4] Given the importance of masks, you should make sure your children have plenty before leaving home.

In addition to the one on their face, issue an extra carry-along mask to your kids before leaving home. Tuck a plastic bag with at least two masks inside their backpacks. Lastly, give another mask pack to your children’s teachers in case of emergency.

2. Cave In — Appease Your Children’s Desires for Cool Masks

Constantly spoiling your kids is a surefire way to cultivate unruly, unappreciative children. Considering the gravity of COVID-19, however, give in and buy your children whichever masks they want. As a result, your kids will want to wear their masks more often. Additionally, they’re unlikely to share their favorite mask with other kids!

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Stay Home

Of all the actions to take to prepare for in-person school, checking your child’s health daily is one of the most important. Although everyone differs, some of the most common signs of COVID-19 include [5]

Unexplained loss of smell or taste
Newfound difficulties with breathing
Fever
Chills
Overall fatigue

If your children show any of these symptoms, don’t be afraid to keep them home. Even if they’re scheduled to take big tests, teachers will understand — they’ll let your kids make those assignments up upon return to school.

4. Create Some After-School Protocols

At Brevard Health Alliance, we believe safety precautions shouldn’t end once your child comes home. Rather, you should create and follow after-school game plans that reduce the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2.

Make sure your children and the rest of your family understand these plans. This will prevent mistakes and, if done correctly, reduce the spread of pathogens like the novel coronavirus.

Here at Brevard Health Alliance, we’ve been fighting COVID-19 since it hit Brevard County, Florida, a year ago. Thanks to our sliding-scale service model, we’re able to offer services to all of Brevard County’s residents, including the uninsured, unemployed, and economically disadvantaged. Whether you’re looking for a new family doctor, a dentist, or a knowledgeable pediatrician, we’ve got you covered. If you’d like to set up an appointment or learn more about our services, visit our website’s contact page to get started!

References

[1] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775875?guestAccessKey=9961f22d-99e6-4861-8fa6-cf0b3463ef92&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=012621

[2] https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

[3] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1193426.pdf

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html