Every parent, school personnel, leaders, and even officials are troubled whether children should go back to school or not. Now that the pandemic isn't over yet, school reopening remain a topic of debate. Questions like, "What are some precautions we take if we're going back?" and "How do we help our baby get together?"
According to WHO recent statistics, children under 18 accounts for around 8.5 percent of confirmed cases, with relatively few deaths and typically mild illnesses compared to other age groups. Cases of serious illness have been registered, nonetheless. As with adults, as a risk factor for severe disease and intensive care admission in infants, pre-existing medical conditions have been proposed.
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Yet, due to economic reasons and children's welfare, a road map for school reopening has just been published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show about 89 percent of children in the US, however, live in a county deemed a "red" zone with elevated levels of Covid-19 transmission under the new guidance where over the past seven days, there have been at least 100 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 individuals or a positive test rate of at least 10 percent.
That is roughly 65.3 million children living in "high-transmission" counties, identified by the CDC as a county.
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With all these stats and new guidelines, should your children attend school reopening? Here is what experts have to say.
Public asks: When determining whether to reopen schools, what should be considered?
Experts say: In deciding to reopen schools, officials should evaluate multiple elements such as:
- The local epidemiology of COVID-19: This can vary from place to place within a region.
- Benefits and costs: What are the possible benefits and risks of open schools for children and staff, such as the intensity of transmission in the area where the school operates: no incidents, intermittent transmission, transmission from clusters or group transmission, etc.
Public asks: What advantages will reopening schools provide?
Experts say: School closures have a direct negative effect on the health, education, and growth of children, family income, and the economy as a whole. Physical school reopening advantages include allowing students to finish their studies and progress to the next level, essential programs, access to nutrition, child welfare, such as avoiding child abuse, benefits to culture, such as encouraging parents to work, and so on.
Public asks: Do the CDC recommendations mean that all schools will reopen immediately for in-person training?
Experts say: No. However, such decision is not up to the CDC but each local school district. The CDC issued guidance focused on four levels of group transmission and what kinds of mitigation activities need to be enforced at all four levels, not enforceable laws.
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Public asks: Before deciding if it's the right choice, what variables do they consider?
Experts say: There are three key factors you must take into consideration. The first is an individual risk, which is the risk in your household for your child and others. Second is the danger in the school setting. Two determinants are present here. The third is how your child is doing with virtual learning and living conditions.
Public asks: Are you going to meet with the teacher and other parents?
Experts say: Absolutely. I would have a frank conversation about safety, mainly if it's a teacher you know and trust. Know the what-ifs.
Public asks: It's the night before now. How are you preparing?
Experts say: Ahead of Pack. In case the first one gets damp or soiled, carry at least one extra mask. The school is supposed to have handwashing stations, so having your hand sanitizer never hurts. Fill up your water bottle for your child and prepare some snacks or lunch.
