Doctors Notes:

Returning to school and COVID-19

Lauren Mortensen
This month on our blog we will be discussing COVID 19 and returning to school! We know that going to school in person is how our children learn best. In this blog, we will be discussing how to keep our children safe when they return to school.
1. Children 12 and up should receive their COVID 19 vaccine. Ideally, the second dose should be received 2 weeks prior to returning to school.
2. Face masks should be worn on all children older than age 2 – regardless of vaccination status. Effective mask wearing is proven to help decrease the spread of not only COVID 19 but most viruses. Last year, we saw far less illness because of mask wearing. It is like sneezing in your arm versus on someone….. of course a physical barrier helps decrease the spread! In order to help keep our schools the safest during this time, both the CDC and the AAP recommend mask wearing. The physicians at Holland Pediatrics certainly agree with this as well! Effective mask wearing is SAFE, even during long periods of time (I.e. a full day of school).
3. Physical distancing – students should stay at least 3 feet away from other students in the classroom when possible.
4. If you have symptoms (cough, congestion, fever, runny nose, etc.) stay home and get tested if COVID 19 rates in your community are high and you are unvaccinated. As variants arise in communities, testing for vaccinated individuals may be necessary as well!
These are some of the key points recommended by the AAP for safe return to school. Please read the article from the AAP listed below for a complete list of their recommendations. Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay safe (oh and keep applying that sunscreen!!).