Now that we are three weeks from the end of our school year, a lot of questions come to mind about the future of schools. Even before the impact of “opening” up the states that is going on this month, the U.S. hit another grim milestone – its deadliest day of this pandemic with 2,909 reported deaths in the last 24 hours. It is easy to imagine we will soon reach the equivalent of a 9/11 death toll DAILY. Among friends and family who are medical professionals, children are often referred to as “germ vectors” who pose a great risk to the older population and those who are immuno-compromised when it comes to COVID-19 but are more likely to be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. This may not be true for all children as yesterday came a news story about a rare rash and severe symptoms for about 100 children around the world, that might be attributable to COVID-19. Is this a fluke, something unrelated, a type of extreme flu, or a glimpse into the future expansion of this enigmatic coronavirus?
I find it harder and harder to imagine the schools will open this fall or even in January. And, if they do, would parents send their kids? Would teachers show up? What about the support staff? [And just imagine the PPE challenge for American school kids – both availability and willingness to wear it. My elementary school kids can barely wear facemasks on a one hour excursion to the park, let alone an entire school day.]
China started opening their schools March 30th using strict procedures:
“According to the epidemic prevention arrangements, we are staggering the rate at which students enter the school and cafeteria to make sure they keep distance. Teachers and students must have their temperature checked when entering and leaving the campus. Anyone whose temperature exceeds 37.3°C after being measured twice will be sent to an isolation area and reported immediately to principal.” … “we measure students’ body temperature three times a day. The security guards disinfect the classroom everyday after students finish the night self-learning at 10:30 pm.”
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-04/09/content_75911788.htm
CDC Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs
The CDC is far less directive on its Schools and Child Care Programs page: “Plan, Prepare, and Respond” at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html. The site contains a “School Decision Tree” (see below) to be prepared for outbreaks. Looking at the various pandemic maps of the United States and the push to reopen states, it does not seem practical for a school district to follow the simplistic advice under the current rampant pandemic situation. To address the situation of a confirmed person with COVID-19 in the school building, the school should first have a short dismissal period (see details below) to clean and disinfect the facilities, which would be followed by a decision whether to extend the school dismissal… which to me seems to bring us right back to where we are today.
Dismiss students and most staff for 2-5 days. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school. This allows the local health officials to help the school determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.
– Local health officials’ recommendations for the scope (e.g., a single school, multiple schools, the full district) and duration of school dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis using the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the specific cases in the community.
– During school dismissals, also cancel extracurricular group activities, school-based afterschool programs, and large events (e.g., assemblies, spirit nights, field trips, and sporting events).
– Discourage staff, students, and their families from gathering or socializing anywhere. This includes group child care arrangements, as well as gathering at places like a friend’s house, a favorite restaurant, or the local shopping mall.
#Pandemicparenting for the forseeable future…