While there is still a global pandemic, the school year inches closer. Returning to school this year will be very different than any other year, so here are some tips for not only your health and safety when returning to the classroom but also for the health of your family and teachers. This school year, while no one can definitively say how it will go yet, might be a difficult one because of the coronavirus.
All over the world, schools are doing different things to keep their students and the community surrounding schools safe from COVID-19. One thing to remember, backed up by multiple scientific studies, is that children under the age of 18 are a lot less likely to contract the virus. However, it is not impossible. Another thing to keep in mind is that teachers can contract the virus and experience more severe symptoms since they’re typically older. The National Center for Education Statistics states that the median age for public school teachers in the United States is 41, during a 2011-2012 survey. While 41 is not within the very high-risk age category for a coronavirus death, contracting the virus within this age group could prove dangerous, especially for those teachers or family members who have underlying health conditions.
The Centers for Disease Control stated that, in schools, the easiest way to spread the virus is by “full-sized, in-person classes, activities, and events [because] students are not spaced apart, share classroom materials or supplies, and mix between classes and activities.” The CDC also says that small groups that are socially distant and don’t share materials, instead staying solely within their classroom group and one teacher, are at a middle risk of spreading the virus.
The CDC recommends use of cloth face coverings for students and teachers, widespread availability of hand sanitizer and soap, disinfecting high traffic areas, and posting signs in many areas to remind people to socially distance and wash hands. If the CDC is recommending these options, it is what many schools may require when students return. In California, schools in Los Angeles and San Diego will be moving to online-only classes in an effort to curb coronavirus. In Florida, the Orange County School District reported that 18 Orange County school employees tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 15.
The virus will only continue to spread, so when going back to school, in whichever way you and your family determine to be safe, ensure that you are respecting the community and following rules and regulations. Wear your face covering even if you think it’s not cool. Wear it for your grandma or your best friend’s grandma, or for your mom and dad or your neighbor’s mom and dad. Wash your hands as often as you can or use hand sanitizer frequently for yourself and for your friends/classmates, who may have a bad immune system. Social distance as much as possible for our doctors and nurses at overflowing hospitals or for all those in the hospitals fighting for their lives. We have to think like a community and fight this virus together, even if it may not impact you directly.
