It’s that time of year again! School is back in session! Time for sales, adorable photos on the front porch, and the inevitable nostalgia about how quickly they’re growing up. It’s also time to pack lunches and send the kiddos off to the bus stop, finally returning them to the classroom where they belong. But here’s the catch: it also means the risk of catching COVID-19.
Contrary to popular belief, children can indeed contract COVID-19. The myths that kids don’t get sick, only experience asymptomatic cases, or that the virus behaves like a mild cold for them are just that—myths. Tragically, we have seen children hospitalized and some have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. As of late July, over 4,400 children have been affected by multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a serious condition linked to the virus.
The Delta Variant Changes Everything
The Delta variant is more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain, wreaking havoc among the unvaccinated in the U.S. Children under 12 remain ineligible for vaccination, which means this back-to-school season is not just about buying school supplies but also about cramming unvaccinated kids into poorly ventilated classrooms for hours. Many will be unmasked due to political decisions in states like Florida and South Carolina, where mask mandates have been banned.
We all want our kids back in school, and no one wishes to revert to the chaos of virtual learning. Parents need to work, and kids need to socialize. However, sending them into schools without masks or social distancing during a surge of the Delta variant is setting the stage for another outbreak. We’ve lost count of how many surges we’ve experienced—maybe we should name them like hurricanes! Let’s call this one “Noah,” after the top baby boy name from the year our kindergarteners were born.
Kids Need to Be Back in School
After a year and a half in a global pandemic, we’ve reached a tipping point: kids need to return to classrooms. But with COVID-19 numbers soaring again, we need to face reality. Children going back to school without precautions will lead to another surge, primarily among the unvaccinated.
This back-to-school season feels like a rollercoaster ride of excitement and fear. Our children are being thrust into a high-risk environment without proper safety measures. They need masks, barriers, and ventilation, yet many are resistant to those solutions. It’s perplexing that some parents who abide by dress codes at golf courses and country clubs refuse to require masks for their kids. Allowing COVID-19 to spread in schools is like unleashing chaos.
Let’s not deceive ourselves: kids will contract COVID-19, and pediatric ICUs will fill up again. This is simple math, which we want our children to learn, but they can’t do that if they’re stuck in a hospital bed.
Must-Have Back-to-School Item: Vaccines
Until we have a pediatric vaccine, our kids are learning in a COVID petri dish. We must take steps to reduce their risk. COVID-19 cases are surging, and ICUs are overwhelmed. We cannot walk into this new school year with our eyes closed.
Mask your kids, demand social distancing, and push for better ventilation. Asymptomatic individuals can still spread the virus. This is a fact that everyone must understand. We can only hold on until vaccines are available for children like Noah and Emma. Even after vaccination, they should wear masks indoors, as recommended by the CDC.
The return to school will be challenging—not just for the kids but for all involved. For more insights on home insemination and pregnancy, check out this related blog post. To learn more about the importance of vaccination and safety measures, visit this authority on the topic. For further information, you can also explore this excellent resource.
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In summary, while we all want our kids back in school, we must face the reality of the ongoing pandemic. We need to prioritize their health and safety by ensuring proper measures are in place.