COVID-19: How to Stay Safe at School

An informative video created by medical students who are part of Community Initiative First Response (CIFR). We are so thankful for Kush Patel, Jere Tan, Rishabh Agrawal, Katharine Bunch, and Dylan Scott for all of their hard work! 
​For Lower Education (Grades K-12)
Is it safe to send my child to childcare/ school during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
It depends. You will want to check in with the facility to see what safety precautions and sanitation practices are in place. Here are some questions to keep in mind as you decide whether to send your child to school:
  • Are they following CDC guidelines for keeping surfaces free of germs?
  • Will school staff be screening children before entering the facility?
    • Will student's temperatures be taken? (Remember, a fever is ~100.4 degrees).
  • When a student tests positive for COVID-19, what steps will the facility take to ensure the virus is contained?
    • Is there an isolation room for students who start to feel ill during the day?
  • Will masks be required for attendance? 
  • How will the school make sure students socially distance?
    • What will lunchtime and snack time routines look like?
Adapted from Munshi, D. (2020). Is it safe to send my child to child care during COVID-19? Retrieved July 11, 2020, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Is-it-safe-to-send-my-child-to-child-care-during-COVID-19.aspx
​How can I support my child through the adjustment back to school?
Your child may need some extra support as they navigate the return to somewhat normal life. Here are some thoughts to consider:
  • Communicate comfort and connection through non-verbal communication. An extra hug or a gentle smile may go a long way to helping your child feel more relaxed.
  • Validate and relate to your child. Consider how he/she is feeling and what they are experiencing. Let them know you are there for them.
  • Set expectations and stick to them. It may be difficult for your child to go back to school after having such a long period of interrupted learning. Let them know that some behaviors are unacceptable and that following the rules is how we keep everyone healthy. Be calm and assertive. 
Adapted from Supporting Children's Return to School During COVID-19. Developed by the Got It! Program, NSW Health, Version 1.0, May 2020
Should Children Wear Masks?
CDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. Cloth face coverings should NOT be put on babies or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. Children younger than 2 years of age are listed as an exception as well as anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.
Georgia Department of Education "Getting Ready" Guidelines for 2020-2021
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
File Size: 425 kb
File Type: pdf
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Getting Ready for 1st Grade
File Size: 425 kb
File Type: pdf
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Getting Ready for 2nd Grade
File Size: 432 kb
File Type: pdf
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Getting Ready for 3rd Grade
File Size: 422 kb
File Type: pdf
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Picture
Many schools are using a decision tree like the one shown above to plan for what will happen if a student with COVID19 comes to school.
Local School News and Policies
Note: If the school system does not have a designated news or COVID-19 page, the homepage is linked instead. Additionally, many schools are asking that parents complete a survey about back-to-school learning preferences. These surveys are most often found on the school's homepage. 
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For Higher Education (College and Graduate Schools)
are Colleges and universities Planning to Reopen in the Fall?
Most higher education institutions plan to reopen in the fall. However, many schools are offering or requiring that students take some, or all, classes online. On-campus living facilities are likely to open with the goal of only one student per room. 
What protective measures Are College campuses taking to ensure student safety?
Many colleges are following similar policies in which they mandate social distancing at all times and wearing a mask inside facilities and outside (if social distancing is not possible). Depending on the college, the campus may be closed to visitors. Large group events on all campuses have been either rescheduled or canceled.

It is important you check specifically to see what your university is doing to stop the spread of COVID-19. 
The file below is a comprehensive document created by the Minnesota Department of Public Health, which is intended to provide guidance and parameters for colleges and universities to use in their planning for possible reopening of campuses now and into the fall.
Guidance for Mitigating COVID19 at Higher Education Institutions
File Size: 256 kb
File Type: pdf
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Local College News and Policies
Note: If the college does not have a designated news or COVID-19 page, the homepage is linked instead.