School reopening: is it safe for children?
Current knowledge shows it: children can be infected with the new coronavirus. However, children under the age of 12 have symptoms less often and more rarely pass the virus to other people. Children under the age of twelve should, as far as possible, be able to attend school and childcare facilities. In this age group, they are less likely to be infected with the new coronavirus there than in their families.
Should my child go back to school?
The basics: wearing a mask
Children aged 5 years and under should not be required to wear masks. This is based on the safety and overall interest of the child and the capacity to appropriately use a mask with minimal assistance. WHO and UNICEF advise that the decision to use masks for children aged 6-11 should be based on the following factors:
Whether there is widespread transmission in the area where the child resides
The ability of the child to safely and appropriately use a mask
Access to masks, as well as laundering and replacement of masks in certain settings (such as schools and childcare services)
Adequate adult supervision and instructions to the child on how to put on, take off and safely wear masks
Potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development, in consultation with teachers, parents / caregivers and / or medical providers
Specific settings and interactions the child has with other people who are at high risk of developing serious illness, such as the elderly and those with other underlying health conditions WHO and UNICEF advise that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-meter distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area.
If your child’s health is weak what should you do?
Children who are in general good health can wear a non-medical or fabric mask. This provides source control, meaning it keeps the virus from being transmitted to others if they are infected and are not aware that they are infected. The adult who is providing the mask should ensure the fabric mask is the correct size and sufficiently covers the nose, mouth and chin of the child.
Children with underlying health conditions such as cystic fibrosis, cancer or immunosuppression, should, in consultation with their medical providers, wear a medical mask. A medical mask controls spreading of the virus and protection to the wearer, and is recommended for anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
In the context of COVID-19, some children may not be able to wear a mask due to disabilities or specific situations such as speech classes where the teacher needs to see their mouths. In these cases, face shields may be considered an alternative to masks, but they do not provide the equivalent protection in keeping the virus from being transmitted to others.
If a decision is made to use a face shield, it should cover the entire face, wrap around the sides of the face and extend to below the chin. Caution should be taken while wearing one to avoid injuries that could break it and harm the eyes or face.
Is My Child Likely to Get Sick With COVID-19 in School?
Kids are less likely to catch and spread the coronavirus than adults. Health experts say that going to school with safeguards in place helps protect students and lowers their chances of getting the virus. These include:
washing hands and cleaning surfaces often
wearing masks or cloth face coverings
keeping kids spaced apart
staggered schedules
grouping the same students and teachers together throughout the school day
If healthy kids do get coronavirus, they are less likely than adults to have symptoms or to get very sick. And, while worrisome to parents, the inflammatory disorder called multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) that some kids get after having coronavirus is rare.
Child with symptoms WITHOUT in contact with someone displaying symptoms of COVID-19
a) Your child has a slight cold (cold, sore throat, mild cough). He is also in good health: Your child can continue to go to school or to the reception center.
b) Your child has a fever. He is also in good health: Your child should stay at home. He can return to school or to the reception center 24 hours after the fever has subsided. If the fever lasts three or more days, call the pediatrician. If other symptoms appear, such as gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, body aches, loss of taste and / or smell, discuss what to do with the pediatrician.
c) Your child has a strong cough. He is also in good health: Your child should stay at home. He can return to school or to the reception center if the cough has improved significantly within three days. If the cough does not improve and persists beyond three days, call the pediatrician. If other symptoms appear, such as gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, body aches, loss of taste and / or smell, discuss what to do with the pediatrician.
d) Your child has a fever or a strong cough and / or has other health problems: Call the pediatrician and discuss the procedure with him.
Child showing symptoms WITH close contact with someone showing symptoms of COVID-19
The person with whom your child has been in close contact should get tested.
a) The test result is POSITIVE: Your child should stay at home. He should get tested. Call the pediatrician, he will inform you of the procedure to follow.
b) The test result is NEGATIVE: Your child can return to school or to the nursing home 24 hours after the fever has subsided or the cough has improved significantly.
How to know if My Child's School is Following All COVID-19 Safety Measures?
Cleaning and disinfecting. Schools should follow advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cleaning and disinfecting common areas. Surfaces that get touched a lot (such as bathroom handles and knobs, keyboards, and doorknobs) should be cleaned as often as possible but at least daily.
Health screenings and monitoring. Schools may check kids for symptoms of coronavirus each day. This can include temperature checks and symptom surveys at home or in school. If someone gets sick, there should be a process for isolating them, reporting exposures, and returning to school. Students, teachers, or school staff should stay home if they are sick. Kids should not go to school if they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
Face coverings. All adults should wear masks or cloth face coverings, as should middle school and high school students. Preschoolers and elementary school-age kids — if they can keep from touching their faces a lot — also should wear masks.
Hand washing. Students and staff should wash their hands with soap and water well and often. They also can use hand sanitizer if water is not available.
Social distancing (also called physical distancing). Adults and students should stay 6 feet apart whenever possible. In the classroom, spacing desks 3–6 feet apart and having students wear cloth face coverings will help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Class or group size. Some schools may limit class sizes, place students in cohorts, stagger schedules, or do a hybrid of online and in-person learning. A cohort is a group of students and teachers who stay together throughout the school day. Check with your school to find out their specific plans.
Other ways to lower risk. Schools across the country are figuring out creative ways to reduce the spread of germs. They might:
Hold classes and activities outside as much as possible.
Have teachers change rooms rather than kids.
Have meals in the classroom instead of the cafeteria.
Mark floors to show students where to stand and walk.
Have students ride the bus in assigned seats that are distanced apart.
Schools that follow these practices can lower the chances of COVID-19 spreading among students and staff. But that doesn't mean infections can't still happen. In case of an outbreak, schools should have a plan ready that includes full-time distance learning at home.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
http://www.safetravel.ch/safetravel2/servlet/ch.ofac.wv.wv203j.pages.Wv203ActualitesCtrl?action=afficheDetail&refActu=003013
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-school.html
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