Back to School: How to Keep Your Child Safe from the Delta Variant

August means back to school, and in a pandemic year fueled by the Delta variant, it’s inevitable that germs are going to spread when kids get back together. The CDC has advice for keeping children protected from this highly contagious version of the COVID-19 virus, and that is: mask up in schools and other crowded places, and make sure everyone age 12 and up in the family gets vaccinated.

If your child wakes up feeling sick, it’s best to keep them at home and get them tested for the virus before letting them go back to school. Even if those symptoms turn out to be “just a cold”, try not to spread it! If your child tests positive for the coronavirus, don’t panic! The first thing to remember is that children are incredibly resistant to the virus. Think ahead of time about who will take care of whom – and how – if somebody gets sick. Of course, keep your child at home until they are no longer contagious.

Your child may wear any mask that fits well – no gaps around the mouth, nose, or chin – and is comfortable. A cotton mask is typically the most comfortable, lightweight, and breathable for children in schools. If your child is unvaccinated and gets sent home from school after a possible COVID-19 exposure, quarantine your child, wear masks in the household, watch for symptoms and make sure they get tested! To learn more about keeping your child safe while going back to school this year, click here.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »