How can parents keep kids safe from COVID-19 if they go back to school

Families will need to make that determination pretty soon classes are scheduled to start in September. Details have not been finalized. Many parents are concerned about what school will look like if students go back to class this fall, and joining us now to talk about how families can stay safe. First of all, what are your thoughts on face to face in-person learning right now? This is really an important topic. will say that it's the safe classroom is a healthy classroom, this means to help for all involved staff, teachers’ students and their families are all local. First, you need to have a decline in rates in the community. Every family will need to look at risk and reward and level of community transition. So face to face can work in some circumstances given that there's agreement on safety measures mask distancing and organizing what the classroom looks like to mitigate the spread and keep people safe.

Doctors put out a statement last week saying the social-emotional and behavioral health to say nothing about the economic well-being for children out of school is more dangerous than to have them in class what do you think. I think the health risks of not reopening are real, including mental health child abuse screening nutrition being socially engaged developing. But I don't think it's all created equal. those that are maybe further along in their education might require different banks as those that might be younger need more development and then we've got to think about the unique needs of our most vulnerable populations and what they might need what when it comes from technology to being in school and then you've got to have the families to take care of them if someone gets sick got a plan to know what to do if you're on the parents to come to pick you up or daycare that's a real problem. so doctor let me make sure I'm getting you can hear you correctly you think that she should be case by case. no, I think that you've got to think about the cohort approach. and I think that early. on. we got a look at all the factors and then you have to make a determination because this is local. we are depending on how can we early in the morning we're getting light actually because it's a month right, foursomes both so so what do you suggest you know it's kind of confusing I think as a mother who has kids in school, it's very confusing. I agree I think we need to be clear about capabilities are there we need testing we tracing we need isolation. you need it.

The disinfecting cleaning process needs to organize a classroom in a way that's safe. we got to reinforce. to parents. needs to be done and what the communications if their kids get sick. so it did problem is that we don't know what transmission will be like in the community in September right. so we've got it to be able to think about and have contingencies for 4 the transmission does rise. Versus being where it is today. the schools will have safety protocols but what about outside of the classroom, what's your advice to parents who of course don't want there. kids to contract the virus and then bring in the school. that I think is really important you know a recent case family foundation study said that 3.3 million older adults live with school-going children now that puts them at risk as well. I think we've got to continue to engage in the prevention measures that we've been talking about wearing the mask hand hygiene and distancing. and then also making sure that if you've been exposed to some of them might have Covid-19 or you're having symptoms at that moment you got to be able to speak up and act on that so that others don't get sick.

Regards

Tahir Mehmood