What to Expect When Going Back to School During the COVID-19 Pandemic
It’s finally that time of year again. And by that time of year, I mean the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, which has been sweeping across the globe for the past few months. As you well know, pandemics tend to cause a lot of chaos and upheaval in people’s lives, including on college campuses and in schools across the country. The symptoms are often similar to those you might experience during your annual influenza outbreak—but they can be a lot more severe, especially if you’re pregnant or under 5 years old.
Kids Under 8 Years Old Should be Vaccinated Now
If you're a parent of a child under 8 years old, it's crucial that you make sure they are vaccinated against chickenpox. Vaccinations have been shown to be up to 90% effective in preventing severe illness and death due to this virus, but they won't help once your child gets sick. Make sure your child is getting two doses of vaccine six months apart. If your child is an older teen who has never had chickenpox, talk with your doctor about whether vaccination would be right for them. It's possible that you may need to get one dose of vaccine if their immune system isn't as strong as an adult. Talk with your pediatrician or family doctor about when these vaccines should be given and which is best for your child.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends children over 12 months old receive two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine six weeks apart before age 12 months; the first dose at 12 through 15 months and the second dose at four through 6 years old. It also recommends a third dose for adults 18 years or older who did not receive both recommended doses when they were younger. People who are born after 1957 should receive two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart. Individuals can either be vaccinated or show proof of immunity by providing documentation of receipt of two doses on official immunization records. Receipts from doctors' offices, health departments, military installations, schools, laboratories, clinics and other facilities should be accepted as evidence that someone received the MMR vaccine during childhood. What doesn't count? A record from a daycare center does not count because most daycares only provide one dose per day. Neither do proofs of immunity. Proofs include lab test results showing a past infection or blood tests that show antibodies against the disease. Documentation from outside the United States is acceptable, too, if it was provided by the appropriate authority in another country and states there was proper administration of MMR vaccine. In addition to keeping vaccinations current, staying away from people who are infected with COVID-19 will also help protect yourself and others around you. And remember: students who return to school now must still adhere to all infection control measures including staying home when ill.
Watch out for Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a rare, serious, and sometimes fatal illness that causes an infection of skin and mucous membranes. As a result, people with fever are at higher risk for developing additional symptoms. Monkeypox has been reported in some countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central America. It is related to smallpox because they are both caused by different types of viruses in the same family called poxviruses. There have been over 400 cases of monkeypox reported worldwide since 2016. Most cases were reported from African countries but there have also been reports from Europe, South America, and Asia. The majority of these cases were human-to-human transmissions which occurred primarily through contact with bodily fluids. Cases can also be contracted from handling infected animals or through the air. So far there is no evidence that this virus could be transmitted through contaminated food or water sources but it’s still possible for those who come into contact with it to get sick even if they aren’t near someone who is actively infected. Symptoms usually appear about two weeks after contracting the virus and include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat and cough. These symptoms can last anywhere from four days to three weeks before improving on their own without treatment. However, without treatment some people may develop serious complications like encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or widespread skin rash causing large blisters. If you're concerned about your health after returning home you should monitor your body temperature twice daily until it's normal again as well as watch out for any other signs of illness including coughing up blood or yellow eyes/skin/nose due to difficulty breathing due to a lung infection (pneumonia). If you suspect that you might have contracted the virus please see your doctor immediately! You'll need to answer questions about your travel history, recent contact with rodents, etc. You'll also need to provide samples of blood and urine so they can test them for the virus. Depending on how soon you go to the doctor, they may prescribe anti-viral medications to reduce your chances of developing severe symptoms. What's more, if you've had contact with someone who is known to have monkeypox, your local healthcare provider will probably want to quarantine you and check for symptoms regularly until either all symptoms disappear or 28 days pass since your last exposure. Be sure not to shake hands during this time period as well!
What Parents Should Do Before Back to School
1. Learn how your child will get home at the end of the day. Plan for them not being able to come home directly after school and it raining on their way home.
2. Consider taking a few days off work if you have sick children or live in an affected area. There is no need for many people with unaffected children to take time off from work, especially if there are younger siblings in the household who can care for them and stay healthy themselves by washing their hands, covering coughs and sneezes, etc. One should never stay home because they think they might be sick, but do so if they have been diagnosed with influenza or one of its complications.
If possible, set up homeschooling plans before kids return to school to avoid getting behind during the busy fall season.
A parent should decide what would happen if their child does become ill: will other family members be available to help? Will the childcare provider close down for a period? Will someone else come in and care for the kids while mom recovers? What is going on with transportation? Do we know where our kids go after school or after dismissal until we pick them up? Are we familiar with the routes that buses use to transport students? (Many parents find out too late that their kid's bus has driven past their stop for several stops.) Is my son's classmate coming back this year even though he was diagnosed with pneumonia over the summer? Where will my daughter go when she gets sick--will she miss too much school if she stays home all week with her fever? And what about homework; don't I want my kids to learn just as much as they were learning when I took them out of school this past spring because I couldn't find a babysitter? To prepare for a pandemic at school, talk to teachers about potential accommodations for those with physical limitations and special needs. For example, some schools offer sign language interpreters for deaf students. Other ideas include making sure wheelchair ramps are functional and clearances meet ADA requirements; making sure signage throughout the building meets ADA requirements; installing more stair lifts in case elevators aren't functioning properly during pandemics like COVID-19. Schools also may need to consider food and drink restrictions due to high contamination rates such as keeping only water bottles sealed and served inside the cafeteria. The school may need to make a decision if they will allow outside snacks, and if they do, they must first be approved by the health department. Teachers and staff should discuss with each other whether the school needs to have a plan for isolation in place. The CDC recommends that employees take a daily antiviral medication if they feel ill and report any symptoms. It is important for everyone to stay home when they are feeling flu-like symptoms unless they are seeking medical attention. Children should stay home for 24 hours after their fever breaks, and then they are allowed to return to school. Parents should ensure that their children have enough clothing, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, underwear and enough space in their bags to hold school supplies. Unless the child is sick with a contagious illness or cold/flu-like symptoms, they do not need to wear a mask in school. Be sure that the kids have washed their hands with soap and water before eating. Practice good hygiene when preparing meals for the family at home. Keep surfaces clean by using a surface cleaner containing bleach or alcohol when needed and keep towels used by the sick child separate from other laundry items. Educate children on how to properly wash their hands by demonstrating the steps for them.
This Year’s Flu Shot Does Not Include H1N1 Strain
This year’s flu shot does not include H1N1, but it does contain two other strains that are in circulation. So far this season, the dominant strain has been a type of influenza A known as H3N2. The vaccine protects against both types of influenza A, so you will still be protected from H3N2 strains even if your vaccine doesn’t protect against H1N1. If you have already received your flu shot and were later diagnosed with COVID-19, talk to your doctor about getting another one. For more information on staying healthy during this pandemic, visit CDC's website or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636). One way for individuals to help stem the spread of COVID-19 is by being vaccinated. There is currently no available antiviral medication for this virus, and outbreaks can occur anywhere - including schools!
The Centers for Disease Control offers these additional tips:
• Stay home when sick, unless you need medical care.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or clothing; then dispose of tissues in a trash can without touching them first.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when around others who may be ill.
• Keep surfaces that people touch frequently clean by using soap and water or disinfectant wipes. • Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if handwashing isn't possible. Remember, washing hands with soap and water is always better than using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your face until you wash your hands. If necessary, use a tissue or face cloth to avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
• Wear masks outside of homes and daycare centers if needed to prevent coughing or sneezing into the air and coming into contact with respiratory droplets of those who are ill. Masks should also be worn in public places such as grocery stores where many people congregate at once. In general, covering up helps reduce the risk of spreading illness. Additional resources include:
• When to seek immediate medical attention? Seek emergency treatment when someone shows symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion or loss of consciousness within six hours after exposure to COVID-19.
• Other common signs and symptoms? Coughing, runny nose, fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, sore throat or swollen lymph nodes.
Dealing with an Outbreak at Work or School
How can you stay healthy at work or school? What if there is an outbreak on campus? These are some of the most common questions and concerns people have about back to school during a pandemic. Below are several tips from experts who offer advice for everything from avoiding exposure, getting updates, and staying informed in order to help you feel prepared for any possible emergency situation. 1) Avoid contact with those who may be infected with COVID-19: For more information on how to avoid infection and contagion, check out our latest blog post. 2) Use public transportation: If possible, try not to use your car because it is an enclosed space that would increase your risk of exposure if someone has contracted COVID-19. 3) Keep clean: Wash your hands often and make sure you wash them before eating as well as after using the restroom or before touching your face. 4) Update yourself with accurate information: It's important that you know what’s going on by staying up to date with news sources including your local health department website or social media page so that you can be knowledgeable about any potential outbreaks occurring near you! 5) Get vaccinated against illnesses such as measles and mumps: Vaccines are extremely effective at preventing illness and should always be used when they're available. 6) Stay home if you're sick: In case of illness, don't come into work or go to school until you've been fever free for 24 hours without vomiting. 7) Drink lots of fluids: Drinking water will help reduce chances of dehydration which could lead to complications. However, do not drink caffeinated beverages such as coffee or soda while you're feeling ill; these types of drinks act as diuretics that cause urine output to decrease. Lastly, no matter what happens, we want to hear from you! Send us pictures of your day back at school during COVID-19 and we'll share it with everyone else on the Spillover team. And remember, please take precautions to keep yourself safe while continuing your life as usual. We hope this guide helps ease any fears you might have about being exposed to COVID-19. Good luck and enjoy your time back at school! Do you still have questions about how to prepare for COVID-19? Check out some other blogs posts here: * The Reality of Working and Going Back to School During a Viral Outbreak * Cleaning Products That Can Help You Fight A Viral Outbreak
*COVID-19 Basic Prevention Tips
The New Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Continues to Worsen
The number of Ebola cases in Democratic Republic of Congo has spiked. Currently, there are a total of 211 confirmed Ebola cases and 113 suspected cases under investigation. Cases have now been reported in Goma, one of DR Congo's largest cities and the capital of the North Kivu province. The deadly virus is continuing to worsen and this is not a prediction we can ignore. What might be even more concerning is that it could quickly spread into Uganda or Rwanda where an outbreak among wildlife was just reported. These are our close neighbors, countries with shared borders where viruses like Ebola can spread easily. We need to take precautions because this pandemic will affect us all. To help limit the spread of the virus here in America, CDC released some guidance for those going back to school after Labor Day break. They recommend taking necessary steps to avoid contact with other people’s blood or body fluids; washing hands frequently; limiting touching of your face; avoiding contact with animals unless you absolutely must touch them; staying home if you are sick and throwing away used tissues and other objects so they don’t come into contact with others
Please Understand Me
One of the most anticipated times in any school year is undoubtedly those first few weeks back at school, usually with a mix of dread and excitement. This year has been slightly different with not only high levels of concern about H1N1 (COVID-19) outbreaks but also issues such as cyberbullying. Here are some things you can expect this back to school season when going into this pandemic:
1) A quarantine period in schools due to potential outbreaks related to COVID-19 from infected staff and children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges that families be aware of their state’s public health policies, which are not one size fits all. States may have provisions in place to keep children out of school if they have had contact with someone who has contracted the virus. States may or may not require parents or guardians to provide documentation that an ill child is no longer contagious before allowing them back into school or daycare settings.
2) Monkeypox will likely be an issue for some American students attending summer camps abroad.
3) Different types of vaccines will be recommended depending on your child's age and risk factors such as living near areas where there are cases of COVID-19, attendance at camp overseas, etc. For example, kids between 6 months and 18 years old should get two doses of vaccine spaced four weeks apart. Adults should get one dose, while kids over 18 years old don't need any vaccine. 4) Parents are encouraged to talk to their school officials well ahead of time so that administrators know what steps need to be taken when it comes time for these groups' return. 5) In addition, everyone should continue taking precautions during the summer months by staying away from people exhibiting flu-like symptoms, washing hands frequently, avoiding touching noses and mouths with unwashed hands, staying home if sick until fever is gone without medication more than 24 hours after onset of illness (without causing fever), drinking plenty of fluids, eating nutritious foods and getting plenty of rest. 6) Finally, education is key! Get information on the disease and share it with others to dispel myths and learn how best to protect yourself and loved ones. And remember, Getting vaccinated against seasonal influenza each year will help reduce the chance of contracting a potentially life-threatening infection like COVID-19. Talk to your school officials, teachers, and medical providers about COVID-19 and the best way to stay healthy. What else do you think COVID-19 is going to impact? Are there any other changes that COVID-19 will bring to school? How will COVID-19 affect school schedules and activities? Will anyone be able to come back to school at all, or will it be closed for the year? How are we supposed to prepare for this new threat and return to a normal routine at the same time? There are a lot of questions still left unanswered. Stay tuned for updates. Continuation (six+ sentences): More blog posts coming soon. Check back often.
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