Back to school-Parents face a tough challenge

As school starts next month, many parents like us are worried about sending the kids back to school. As much as we want the kids to go back to the regular pattern and have social interaction, the question remains-Is it safe? The synergy needed to shape up the kids have been missing since March. My kids are tired and are eager to go back and meet their old friends.

The fact is even pre-COVID, around the flu season, I have freaked out when my kids have become sick, not sure how to handle the stress Post COVID. My fear has become manifold due to the Ontario government’s plan of getting the kids back to school without reducing class sizes, which contradicts public safety guidelines.

The conflict between “yes” and “No” has been doing rounds in our house, unsure where to get the right answer. Most parents are in the same dilemma, questioning among the social circles to find the correct answer.

The schools are essential to fulfilling high-quality education and providing our children with the best possible start in life. The education systems worldwide are based on acknowledging that professional teachers best deliver instruction to students in the classroom setting.However, as a mother, I also feel schools must provide healthy and safe environments for students, teachers, and family members at home to ensure effective and efficient education delivery to students. At this point, I am not sure and therefore I need to hold back my decison.

I am also scared to send the kids not knowing the real situation since the COVID pandemic has been complete lockdown.Currently, schools are closed, and children are sheltered with their own families, it’s tough to analyze how this virus can catch through crowds of young people or from young people to adults. There are more unknowns and limited knowledge.

To catch transmission results in real-time, researchers need to follow many children, which is not easy to do. “It’s a lot of luck, timing and hard work,” says Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida.
“We need this information to safely plan for return to school and work and play,” says Catherine Birken, a pediatrician, and researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. “Without it, we’re completely in the dark.”

In Ontario, Canada, certain cities such as Toronto, Peel Region, and Windsor-Essex have moved to Stage 3 very recently. With stage 3 opening too, business is not fully operational.I am just wondering if the situation might only worsen when everything reopens, including school and offices. With increase mobility and social interactions, the cases are bound to rise.

The fact is, “I am not ready to surrender my kids to this trial and error”, in the COVID situation, an error can cost you life. Trying to test the current “Back to School” model might compromise my family and kids’ health.

The medical experts say children under the age of 10 are less likely to spread this disease, but I am worried that full-time elementary classes without face masks could hurt students.

“I know kids aren’t supposed to get it as serious, but there’s always a unique possibility. If any of them gets it, the risks to the parents, kids, and extended family members are high “We just aren’t willing to take that risk.”

However, I read the WHO recommendations and have highlighted few below,

As per data reported to WHO and WHO’s recommendation highlights, 

1. .”Children and adolescents up to 18 years of age represent 1 to 3% of reported infections, even though this age group comprises 29% of the global population.
2. While children may be less affected, they may also have a more significant number of contacts in school and community settings. Further studies are underway to assess the risk of infection in children and better understand transmission in this age group. 
3. As children generally have a milder illness and fewer symptoms, cases may sometimes go unnoticed. Importantly, early data from studies suggest that infection rates among teenagers may be higher than in younger children. Some modeling studies indicate that school reopening might have a small effect on wider transmission in the community, but this is not well understood.
4. Current evidence suggests that people with underlying conditions such as chronic respiratory illness, obesity, diabetes, or cancer are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death than people without other health conditions. This also appears to be the case for children, but more information is still needed. 
5. The incubation period for children is the same as in adults. The time between exposure to COVID-19 and when symptoms start is commonly around 5 to 6 days and ranges from 1 to 14 days.

Read more on WHO school reopening facts.

As parents, we all face the most significant dilemma” Is school safe for our kids” when they return in the current situation. With so much data missing and a limited evidence, I have made my decision to have the kids “homeschooled” for the first two months at the least. I have accepted that during the Covid-19 crisis, alternative adjustable, remote delivery of education is safer.

Within a month of opening, we will have more shreds of evidence and data to alter our decision.

We must respect each other’s decision as every family situation is unique; the risks have to be analyzed based on the family members and their underlying conditions or other risk factors associated with exposure. In the end, we all want to be safe and healthy. Together we can combat this deadly virus.

The hospital for sick Kids has also developed the Updated COVID-19: Guidance for School Reopening document.

I have also scooped the following article below for my readers, just with the purpose of knowledge sharing

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