All of this is happening as schools are once again receiving face-to-face instruction across the country. Many parents wonder: Are schools safe? What if they don’t follow the public health precautions banned by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Parents who can take their children out of school, or are there other methods to help reduce the risk?
CNN: We’ve talked about it before, but here we are at the start of another school year during the pandemic. As schools reopen, do you think face-to-face classes are safe from a Covid-19 perspective?
Think of the different layers that can help keep schools safe. One is whether all people eligible for vaccination are vaccinated. They are parents, teachers, staff and all teenagers aged 12 and over. Some parts of the country that have higher vaccination rates also have lower infection rates among children.
Improved ventilation also helps, as does indoor masking, keeping children in cohorts, washing hands, making sure children with symptoms stay home, locating contacts, and other key public health measures. The more widespread Covid-19 is in your community, the more measures the school will need to prevent transmission to the school.
CNN: What should parents do if their child’s school is in an area of high virus transmission, but doesn’t have many of those measures? Many school districts are prohibited from even demanding masks.
Wen: This is difficult for parents, students and teachers in this circumstance. They know what it takes to make schools safer, and if I think, these tools are not considerable.
That said, parents are not helpless here. One thing I would like to insist on is talking to other parents at your child’s school. There is strength in numbers. Can you try talking to the administration together to express your concerns? Remember the concept of layered protection. If mask requirements are unavoidable for any reason, can other measures be taken? For example, can the school provide weekly or twice-weekly tests for all students?
I would also suggest talking to other parents in your child’s class. If you feel good enough about yourself in the same way, you can join in and insist that your children wear masks when they are indoors. You can make the mask dress the norm in your child’s class. Consider talking to the teacher to see if all the children wearing masks can sit together. This also helps reduce the risk to your child.
Remember, too, that the quality of the mask your child wears is really important. A simple fabric facial liner may not be enough, especially with the more contagious Delta variant dominant at the moment. A three-layer surgical mask will be more effective than a fabric mask. If your child is comfortable with an N95, KN95 or KF94 mask, it will provide even better protection. The best mask, however, is one that your child can tolerate consistently and comfortably.
CNN: At what point should parents be so concerned about getting their kids out of school?
Wen: There is no single answer here. I encourage parents to think about their child’s health and the home; the available alternatives; the importance of face-to-face school for your child; and what other risks can be reduced.
First, consider the health of your child and the health of others in your household. If your child is generally healthy and everyone living with you is completely vaccinated, it could be considered differently than if your child is immunosuppressed or if you have a particularly vulnerable family member. Of course, if your child is 12 years old or older, vaccinating them will be key to protecting him and the rest of the family.
Second, what are the alternatives? For many parents, face-to-face school is critical because they have to work. There may be no other options. Virtual learning is not offered in all schools and many parents may not have the option of moving their child to a school that offers more safety precautions.
Third, many children have actually suffered without face-to-face instructions. A face-to-face school may be needed for the child’s emotional health as well as for their continued development.
If it is really crucial that your child is in school, you should look at what other risks can be reduced. Yes, it is true that getting your child out of school can reduce the risk, but it should be the last resort. Above all, since school is essential for so many parents and children, you should see what other risks you can try to reduce.
Remember that the risk is cumulative. If your unvaccinated child needs to be in school, work to reduce the risk in other ways. Don’t participate in indoor game dates, but keep them all outdoors. Don’t let your guard down on extracurricular activities – they should use the same precautions as during school. Don’t have dorms and pizzas inside; it would be a shame to be very careful during school hours just so that your child is infected during social activities after school. And parents can reduce the risk and, for example, always wear masks inside when people with an unknown vaccination status are found.
CNN: Is there any other measure that encourages parents to take to reduce risk in schools?
Wen: One of the most risky scenarios during school hours is during meal time, when children do not wear masks and can pile up. Ask what supplies your school can offer during lunch and snack time. Could the kids eat outdoors? Could it be an option for some children?
I would also wonder about quarantine protocols. How will you know if another child is positive? Do all class members need to quarantine or try an option that can reduce the need for a long quarantine and therefore a long time out of school? This is another case where quick and frequent testing is helpful: What types of testing options are made available to students and their families?
CNN: What about 10- and 11-year-olds who aren’t old enough to get vaccinated? Should parents try to sneak them in to get the vaccine or should they wait?
It is best to wait until we have the data confirming that the vaccine is safe and effective in this younger age group. Note that the dose being tested in this group is lower than the dose given to children 12 years of age or older, so this is another reason to wait.
Meanwhile, parents and children should take extra precautions, knowing that it is a particularly dangerous time for children during the pandemic, but that there are steps we can all take to reduce children’s risk by keeping them in face-to-face school.