Coronavirus guidance ahead of school opening
Many indications suggest that children are less likely to become ill if infected with COVID-19, but more data is needed to fully understand how the virus affects children’s health.
Epidemiologists said precautions still need to be taken for young children considering the number of confirmed cases in those under the age of 19 detected here. Since Korea reported its first case of the novel coronavirus Jan. 20, the number of cumulative cases of COVID-19 in persons under the age of 9 were 147 as of May 20, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Some 627 between the ages of 10 and 19 were also confirmed during the same period.
While policymakers and health authorities have been agonizing over the reopening schools, high school seniors became the first group to physically attend classes May 20 amid signs of control of the virus spread here. Under the government’s plan, the remaining students including kindergarteners will resume attending school in a phased process that will last until June 8.
Although the spread of the highly contagious virus had been showing signs of abating, many parents and educators still worry about the prevention of mass infections of students in classrooms and via school activities. Until a vaccine for the virus or a definitive therapeutic agent are developed, the epidemic will certainly be drawn out mainly due to the largely unknown scientific details of the novel coronavirus.
“We need to steadily practice infection prevention measures as a habit in our daily lives for the sake of our children’s safety,” said Jang Kwangcheon, a professor at the pediatrics department of the National Health Insurance and Service (NHIS) Ilsan Hospital.
Unlike at home, teachers will have greater difficulty in managing students in classrooms as they usually take care of more than 20 students at the same time in the same place.
“It’s not something that should be left to teachers alone. Parents should teach their children at home about precautionary measures to prevent the virus infection and take care of them as much as teachers do,” Jang said.
Here are guidelines from the nation’s public healthcare services to prevent COVID-19 in schools.
Wearing masks
A well-fitting masks should be considered better protection than a loose-fitting one and parents should make sure the mask covers their child’s nose. During the hot summer, dental or cotton masks can be helpful instead of KF94 ones that make it more difficult to breathe for children. In particular, the effectiveness of masks can decrease if the mask gets wet due to sweat, so parents and children should carry extra ones.
Spring and early summer are the key time of year for seasonal allergies. Many children will also start to sniffle and sneeze as plants release pollen. In this case, children can get infected via their hands as they touch their nose or rub their eyes.
Parents are highly recommended to observe their children’s condition through examination and treatment in advance, and to make sure they wash their hands and face after going out.
Ventilate often
Indoor ventilation is essential. When many people breathe in an enclosed space, wearing masks won’t be enough to protect against inhaling contaminated air. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the COVID-19 virus can spread through respiratory droplets produced when “an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.”
It would also seem to bear special mention in Korea where, much like neighboring China, many members of the public freely spit in public places with zero consideration of others. This unhygienic — not to mention anti-social — practice is another possible mode of transmitting the deadly disease.
The question then becomes whether or not ventilation can help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens. With the summer season just around the corner, the use of air conditioners and indoor ventilation have become a new source of concern in Korea. Regarding the issue, the KCDC has already announced guidelines for the use of air conditioning as “okay” as long as the room is frequently openly ventilated.
The education ministry also advised schools to keep all windows at least one-third open at all times while running air conditioning in classrooms.
In confined spaces, avoid shouting or running as much as possible. Having unnecessary conversations or shouting can increase the chances of contamination as the frequency and the amount of breathing also increases. Running inside classrooms should be avoided as the pollutants in the dust on the floor can fly back into air.
Wash hands often and carry sanitizer
Carrying hand sanitizer and wet tissues is highly recommended. In addition, it is useful to have moisturizer at hand to prevent hand skin symptoms caused by washing frequently. Scratching or touching hands or faces often will not be helpful for infection prevention, so keeping children’s hands and face clean and undried is necessary.
It is not good to take off a mask even during the outdoor sports class in a spacious gym. Students are advised to maintain distance from each other during the gym classes. Avoiding exercising too hard while wearing a mask, because breathing can become difficult.
If students have a mild fever, sore throat, or cough, parents should make sure they know to let their teachers know quickly. Even if they want to go to school to meet their friends, make sure they don’t feign being OK lest they really do become ill.
If classmates don’t come to school after they test positive for the virus, parents and teachers should make sure their children know not to ostracize, bully or make fun of them by talking behind their back about their illness.