Safety Tips For Returning To School During COVID-19: Related Information Practice Safe Distancing

महत्वाची सूचना

 कृपया फू ट कॉक चा हळु वार वापर करा
 बे सिन चा वापर फक्त हात धु ण्यासाठी करा
 बे सिन मध्ये थुं कण्यास अथवा गु ळणी करण्यास मनाई आहे
 बे सिन मध्ये डबे अथवा इतर साहित्य धु नये
 स्वछता राखून सहकार्य करावे .
धन्यवाद !
Safety tips for returning to school during COVID-19
Returning to school has taken on new meaning and a new set of worries for parents and other caregivers during
the age of coronavirus disease 2019 (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.
The decision on what school and learning looks like is usually made on the local level by school boards and
government officials. Overall, schools largely choose from one of three options:
 Distance learning. All instruction is done remotely in this model using technology and other tools.
 In-person schooling. This model is similar to traditional schooling with enhanced health and safety
precautions and procedures.
 Hybrid schooling. This model includes elements of both distance and in-person schooling.
Schools may adopt one or more approaches during the course of the school year and pandemic. Being prepared
for a variety of schooling environments can empower you and your child and reduce anxiety. In each case, there
are steps you can take to reduce the risks of COVID-19, help your child feel safe and make informed decisions
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related information
Back-to-school planning: Checklists for parents, guardians and caregivers
Practice safe distancing
Social distancing, or physical distancing, is the practice of allowing enough space between individuals to reduce
the spread of disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend keeping at least 6 feet (2 meters) of space between
yourself and people outside your household to meet these goals.
But that might not be practical in some schools or with younger children. The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) says following strict physical distancing can conflict with ideal academic, social and emotional learning
standards. It's also not clear how easily COVID-19 spreads among children.
Steps to encourage social distancing during in-person schooling may include:
 Eliminating lockers or grouping them by student groups, or cohorts

 Creating one-way traffic in school hallways
 Using outdoor spaces when possible for instruction, meals and recess
 Reducing the number of children on school buses
 Spacing desks out and having them all face in the same direction
 Using physical barriers, such as plexiglass shields and partitions, to separate educators and students
 Dividing students up into distinct groups or cohorts that stay together during the school day and reducing
interaction between different groups
Weighing the risks and benefits of in-person schooling for children may mean different levels of social distancing
based on the child's age and developmental stage. For example, the AAP recommends allowing interactive play
for preschoolers while encouraging cohorting of students and face coverings for older children.
Wear a mask
The CDC and WHO recommend wearing cloth face masks in public places where it's difficult to avoid close
contact with others, and schools are no exception. This advice is based on data showing that people
with COVID-19 can transmit the virus before realizing that they have it.
If your child's school requires or encourages the use of cloth face masks, consider these tips:
 Wearing cloth face masks should be a priority especially when it's hard to maintain social distance, such as
on the bus, at carpool drop-off or pickup, and when entering the building.
 Have multiple cloth face masks available for your child. Provide your child with a clean mask and back-up
mask each day and a clean, resealable bag for them to store the mask when they can't wear it, such as at
lunch.
 Label your child's mask clearly so it's not confused with another child's.
 Practice properly putting on and taking off cloth face masks with your child while avoiding touching the cloth
portions.
 Remind your child that they should clean their hands before and after touching their mask.
 Instruct your child to never share or trade masks with others.
 Talk to your child about the importance of wearing a face mask and model wearing them as a family.
 Discuss with your child why some people may not be able to wear face masks for medical reasons.
Don't place a face mask on a child younger than age 2, a child who has any breathing problems, or a child who
has a condition that would prevent him or her from being able to remove the mask without help.
Keep hands clean

Practice hand-washing at home with your child and explain why it's important to wash his or her hands with soap
and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, coughing/sneezing, or adjusting a face
mask. To prevent rushing, suggest washing hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
When hand-washing isn't available, suggest that your child use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at
least 60% alcohol. Also, explain that he or she should avoid touching his or her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Schools should encourage routines that encourage frequent hand-washing and following good hand hygiene
practices, such as asking children to cover their mouths and noses with their elbows or tissues when they cough
or sneeze and then washing their hands.
If your child attends in-person schooling, develop daily routines before and after school that foster healthy habits,
such as packing a back-up face mask and hand sanitizer in the morning and washing their hands as soon as
they come home.
Clean and disinfect

Whether your child is being schooled at home or at school, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
can help reduce the risk of illness. This includes frequently touched items such as doorknobs, faucets,
keyboards, tablets and phones.
Stay home if sick

You should monitor your child each day for signs of COVID-19. These include:
 Fever
 Nasal congestion or runny nose
 Cough
 Sore throat
 Shortness of breath
 Fatigue
 Headache
 Muscle aches
 Nausea or vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Poor appetite
 New loss of taste or smell
 Belly pain
 Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Some schools may recommend daily temperature readings as a part of COVID-19 symptom screening. But since
many of these symptoms overlap with other conditions, such as the common cold, allergies and influenza, the
effectiveness of this screening can be limited.
To limit the spread of COVID-19 as well as other germs, children should stay home from school and other
activities if they have any signs of illness or a fever. Contact your doctor if you have questions.
Don't skip vaccinations

Whether classes are happening at school or at home, make sure your child is up to date with all recommended
vaccines. All school-aged children should get a flu shot each season. Getting a flu vaccine is especially important
this season because the flu and COVID-19 cause similar common signs and symptoms. Although the flu shot
does not protect against COVID-19, it can reduce the risk of the flu and its complications. It's another layer of
defense to help prevent missed school days.
What to do if your child is exposed to COVID-19

If your child will be attending in-person school, take steps to be prepared for possible exposure to COVID-19 and
changing scenarios.
 Develop a plan to protect family and household members who are at risk of severe illness, such as those with
compromised immune systems or chronic conditions.
 Make sure that your emergency contact information and school pickup and drop-off information is current at
school. If that list includes anyone who is at risk of illness, consider adding an alternate contact.
 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.
 Plan ahead for periods of quarantine or school closures. Schools may close if COVID-19 is spreading more in
your community or if multiple children or staff test positive. Your child may also need to stay home if he or she
is exposed to a close contact with COVID-19.
Following these steps can help you feel assured that your child is as safe as possible during the COVID-
19 pandemic. For more information on what measures your local schools are taking to reduce the risk of illness,
check with your local school district or health agency.

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महत्वाची सूचना

 Eliminating lockers or grouping them by student groups, or cohorts

Keep hands clean

Clean and disinfect

Stay home if sick

Don't skip vaccinations

What to do if your child is exposed to COVID-19

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