Back to School With COVID-19

You can’t always control those around you, but you can certainly control your own actions. That’s why it’s important to teach your children the necessary steps to help prevent the spread and contraction of the novel coronavirus.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

 For those who may not know exactly what the coronavirus entails, it is a new strain of the virus that came into the world in late 2019 that is linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and a few different types of the common cold.

For a formal breakdown, the acronym stands for the following: (CO) Corona, (VI) Virus, (D) Disease, (19) referring to the year humans began contracting it. When compiled, COVID 19 aka Coronavirus is what we get.


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19? 


Although not everyone finds this virus to be threatening, it’s still never enjoyable to catch a cold or become ill. Stay on the lookout for the following symptoms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.

✓ Fever

✓ Shortness of Breath

✓ Dry Cough

✓ Loss of ability to taste

There are, of course, other potential symptoms because every person is different and thus the virus will affect everyone differently. This is why a test is needed before one is able to confirm whether or not they have the virus.



WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOLERS

As summer ends and schools attempt to open their doors for a normal start to the 2020 school year, it’s important to understand how this virus may affect you and how it is spread.

COVID-19 is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets from a person that is infected and is usually spread through coughing or sneezing. Another common way that COVID-19 spreads is by touching a common surface that is contaminated with the virus and then touching your face (nose, mouth, eyes, etc.) This is why it’s important to disinfect your hands and various surfaces between each person/point-of-contact.

Remember- the Coronavirus can last on surfaces for several hours, but disinfectants can kill it quickly!



SLOW THE SPREAD!


With hundreds and potentially thousands of school-aged kids congregating in enclosed spaces, it’s important to be aware of ways to reduce the spread of this potentially deadly disease. Public health measures are important to follow in order to reduce the spread of not only this virus, but other respiratory infections like the flu or the common cold.



PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS INCLUDE:


✓ Teach your children to cover their mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of used tissue immediately!


✓ Washing hands often with soap and water is important!


✓ Purchase a small container or hand sanitizer for your child to carry on themselves (or in their backpack) and teach them to use it often (such as after touching a door handle or borrowing a pen from someone else)


✓ Normally we encourage the notion that sharing is caring but sharing food and drink should cease until we learn more about this virus. 


✓ Remind your children to be aware of their spatial surroundings and how close they get to one another.


✓ Teach your kids to play with each other at a distance


✓ Staying home when sick or are beginning to feel any of the above symptoms listed earlier in this article

✓ Clean frequently-touched-surfaces and objects. As we learn more about COVID-19, how it affects us, and how it is spread, public health officials may recommend additional or alternative actions. We suggest consulting the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control websites and social pages to stay up to date on current mandates and information.