| Kids are soon scheduled to go back to the classroom across the country. But with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases and the rapid spread of the omicron variant, both parents and school officials are asking if it is safe.
“We fear that it’s going to get a lot worse, between getting together for the holidays and then getting back to school,” said Dr. Stanley Spinner, chief medical officer at Texas Children’s Pediatrics & Texas Children’s Urgent Care in Houston.
While some schools may delay reopening, millions are scheduled to head back next week. Here's what health experts are saying to help children stay safe.
If your child has had direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or is showing symptoms, get them tested.
If a child has symptoms “and if you can’t test them, assume it’s COVID,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. “And then follow all the guidelines — meaning quarantine until asymptomatic and mask for five days after that.”
Pediatricians stress the importance of vaccinating kids if they are eligible. They also agree on wearing a mask in school, even if your child is vaccinated.
“We have layers of protection. And getting vaccinated is maybe the most important of those layers,” Dr. Lawrence Kleinman, vice-chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Rutgers University said.
“But it’s not fully sufficient because it’s imperfect. They’re all imperfect layers,” he added.
As for school activities, canceling them should depend on how much COVID-19 is spreading in your neighborhood, health experts say.
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