ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — The new school year is here, and many parents are sending their kids back to in-person learning. This will be the first school year since the COVID vaccination was released to the public, but some parents are still nervous their kids may pick up the COVID-19 virus and bring it home with them. Ivanhoe has the details on how to send your kids back to school while making sure everyone stays safe.
This year there’s more to worry about than your kids getting good grades.
“So, let’s be honest, children are ideally designed to spread infection,” shared Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
A poll conducted by the American Federation of Teachers and several education groups shows 73 percent of parents are comfortable with their kids returning to the classroom, but a majority are still worried that their child will be infected with COVID-19 at school.
“What we don’t want to do is destroy what’s important in early childhood, and it’s just a risk we’re going to take,” continued Dr. Alexander.
Remind your kids about the everyday precautions they need to take to prevent getting sick …
“Wear your mask, do your social distancing, wash your hands,” Dr. Alexander explained.
Allow them to express concerns or anxiety they may have about returning to school during the pandemic. Checkups with your family doctor are more important than ever. Having a primary care doctor who knows your child’s health baseline is crucial for when they aren’t feeling well.
For those who are still skeptical about whether sending their kids back to school is the right decision for their family, can visit the deciding to go back to school tab under the Children and Teens section on the CDC website. There are three checklists you and your family can fill out together to help decide the best way to take on the 2021-2022 school year together.
Contributors to this news report include: Jenna Ehrlich, Producer; and Roque Correa, Editor.
SENDING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY
REPORT #2885
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been part of everyone’s life since mid-March 2020, when most schools, businesses, and communities quickly changed how they operated to prevent the spread of the virus. Nearly 190 million people in the world have been infected by COVID-19, and more than four million people have died. For over a year, many kids attended school from their houses; their parents might’ve worked from home, too. Now with the vaccines rolling out for everyone, kids are going back to school physically.
(Source: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/facts-about-coronavirus)
THE STUDY: Since the start of the pandemic many people are playing it safe by following the CDC guidelines. A new poll commissioned by the American Federation of Teachers and several education groups shows 73% of parents are comfortable with their kids returning to the classroom. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in March he expects all schools to return to in-person learning this fall, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in April the country should “anticipate” that “schools should be full-fledged in-person” by September.
NEW REGULATIONS: Returning to school has taken on new meaning and a new set of worries for parents and other caregivers during COVID-19. Schools must now balance the educational, social, and emotional needs of their students along with the health and safety of students and staff in the midst of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Schools may adopt one or more approaches during the school year and pandemic. Being prepared for a variety of schooling environments can empower you and your child and reduce anxiety. Both parents and teachers need monitor the kids. If they feel sick inform the school or parents, remind them to wash hands and wear face masks. Find out how your school will communicate with families when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 happens and how they plan to maintain student privacy. At the end of the day be prepared for any situation your kid will be in when they go back to school.
* For More Information, Contact:
Margot Winick, Public Relations
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