GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY

As school districts decide how to provide safe and effective learning for students during the pandemic, parents may have many questions about next steps and when it will be safe for children to go back to the classroom.

While we don’t have all of the answers to your questions, scientists are learning more about the coronavirus and how it affects children. It’s also important to realize that state and county guidelines are based on the number of positive coronavirus infections, and these numbers change daily.

Whether your child is going to school via online learning or is stepping foot into a classroom, here are some things to consider:

Can children get sick with COVID-19?
The answer is yes. So far it appears that while most children tend to have milder illness than adults, up to 8.9% of children with COVID-19 have been hospitalized and 0.5% has died (as of August 6, 2020). This means children are not immune to this virus. Unfortunately, this information is not entirely accurate because not all states report their information and the definition of what age group is considered a “child” is different from state to state.

Is your child or are any of your family members at high risk for complications from COVID-19?
This includes people over 65 or those with underlying health conditions like heart disease, diabetes or immune system problems. Know your family’s risk for COVID-19.

Is your school or school district prepared with strategies to control the spread of COVID-19?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested the following practices: masks for teachers and older students, frequent hand washing, decreased class size, desks separated 3-6 feet, use of outdoor space when possible, regular sanitation of frequently touched surfaces, and keeping students together in cohorts with lunch at their desks and teachers moving from class to class if needed. Some schools may go a step further and add a screening process.

What if your child gets sick or exposed at school?
The Centers for Disease Control recommends staying home for 10 days after the start of symptoms. Your child can go back to school once they are past the 10 days, symptoms have improved and they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. The CDC also recommends anyone exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home for 14 days after their last exposure. Learn more about significant exposure and how it can affect your child and family. Don’t forget to check with your school for their guidelines and policies.

What is the benefit of staggered schedules?
In order to reduce class size and keep students in small groups, staggered schedules may be a good option. This means that the student body will be split into groups that will rotate between on campus learning and remote learning. If a student gets sick, they will have exposed a smaller group of their classmates and only this group needs to quarantine at home. Check to make sure your school will deep clean the desks and classrooms being used by the rotating groups of students.

How can I help my child with distance learning?
As many school districts expand “school from home” options, prepare your family now for school-like schedules and routines. Try to maintain a routine that includes the same wake up time, blocks of time for online work and homework, healthy snacks and meals, and exercise. Have an area set up where they can be online and learn with minimal distractions. If you feel overwhelmed with online learning, get as much information as you can from your school and ask for help.

Does your child need special services from their school, and do you know how to access them?
Many children were not able to get services in the spring as schools closed. Contact your school now to find out how your child will receive their special education services whether the campus is open or not.

Some schools are asking parents for a letter from their child’s pediatrician stating they are in good health. They also want confirmation that your child has not tested positive for COVID-19, or was exposed to the virus. How can you get a letter from your CPCMG pediatrician?
At this time, in accordance with CDC guidelines, CPCMG is not providing “clearance letters” due to the uncertainty of COVID and its transmissibility. We are continuing to monitor the situation as more information becomes available about COVID-19 and may adjust this policy in the future.

As always, please contact your CPCMG pediatrician if you have questions.

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FIVE SIGNS YOUR TEEN MAY NEED TO BE EVALUATED FOR DEPRESSION

If you’re the parent of a teen, you may have already witnessed enough drama and extreme mood swings to rival an episode of “Real Housewives.” But how do you know if what you’re seeing is typical teenage angst or something more? “Talk to your teen on a regular basis and do the best you can to know what’s going on in their life,” says Dr. Hilary Bowers, Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group. “By paying attention to their behavior, you will be able to recognize consistent or abrupt behavioral changes which could indicate an issue.” Here are five behaviors that may indicate your teen needs to be evaluated for depression. Dr. Bowers stresses that these symptoms need to occur every day for more than two weeks in a row. “A few bad days does not equal mental illness,” she says. 1. Social withdrawal Note if your teen starts to spend an excessive amount of time alone, losing interest in extracurricular activities and events at home or in s
Read more

TAKE ACTION TO STOP BULLYING

Many parents remember having difficulties with other kids in school. Maybe you were picked on as a kid, or had a bully that made you miserable. Perhaps you felt safe once you got home and could relax with your family. Unfortunately, bullying today isn’t like it used to be. It can extend beyond the school boundaries and into the home, making it especially important for teachers and parents to know how to spot it and what to do. Bullying is defined as an imbalance of power resulting in repetitive hurtful behaviors. There are two types of bullying, direct and indirect. Direct bullying is often physical, but may include teasing, taunting, name-calling or destruction of property. Indirect bullying is not always as overt, and may involve spreading rumors, intentionally leaving someone out, or cyberbullying. Most bullying happens in middle school, though it is reported in all age groups. The most common types are verbal and social bullying, so it may not be as easy to recognize as a child b
Read more

Kids, Work and Pediatricians San Diego

New Questions About Pediatricians San Diego Few of the advised remedies were practical, trustworthy nor particularly powerful. Having to electronically prescribe a medication to an individual pharmacy makes a lot of issues and is very time consuming in these circumstances. Additionally, it is quite stressful for the individual and their parents. Still, the physician should take each patient like a new puzzle, even in the event the issue is a typical one. And the nurses can be a small blunt and straightforward, but I am the identical way, and so I found it to be very humorous. If you're talking about a Pediatrician who'd be okay with you not vaccinating your son or daughter whatsoever, then that type will be quite hard (if not impossible) to find. A pediatrician is likely to need to click with you and gain your trust till they see your child and I feel just the same manner. Apart from that, a pediatrician should realize that culture practice exercises a good influence on th
Read more