Coronavirus

[ghostrunner]

I think (my wife may be more reluctant) the bottom line for us is that if the kids wear masks while in class, we're good with it. If not, we're probably keeping ours home if there's an option to do so.

If there's not an option to stay home and masks aren't required, we've got some thinking to do. I've mentioned mrs ghost is immune compromised, so that's a big consideration.

I'd love for the kids to see their friends, but I feel good about our home environment. They learn on their own outside of school and we may have to step up home learning and our involvement if it comes to that. Our teenager did better with remote learning than our 10 year old, whose curriculum is looser by nature and he's more scatterbrained like his old man.

This really sucks for teachers who will have to accommodate home and classroom students, and I don't envy them.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Geddy, here comes a wall of words, but these paragraphs specifically address some of what you're asking about. The paper also talks about screening and disinfecting, but these are specific to educators and pre-k. Bold, Italics, Underlined are their large print bolded words indicating a new section.

In the quoted section I posted above they do mention children may be less likely to spread the infection. Although far from proven, this does correspond with what I've read out of China that while children were infected at home, they had minimal or no home infections started by children.

Physical Distancing Measures
Physical distancing, sometimes referred to as social distancing, is simply the act of keeping people separated with the goal of limiting spread of contagion between individuals. It is fundamental to lowering the risk of spread of SARS-CoV-2, as the primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets by persons in close proximity. There is a conflict between optimal academic and social/emotional learning in schools and strict adherence to current physical distancing guidelines. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that schools "space seating/desks at least 6 feet apart when feasible." In many school settings, 6 feet between students is not feasible without limiting the number of students. Evidence suggests that spacing as close as 3 feet may approach the benefits of 6 feet of space, particularly if students are wearing face coverings and are asymptomatic. Schools should weigh the benefits of strict adherence to a 6-feet spacing rule between students with the potential downside if remote learning is the only alternative. Strict adherence to a specific size of student groups (eg, 10 per classroom, 15 per classroom, etc) should be discouraged in favor of other risk mitigation strategies. Given what is known about transmission dynamics, adults and adult staff within schools should attempt to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other persons as much as possible, particularly around other adult staff. For all of the below settings, physical distancing by and among adults is strongly recommended, and meetings and curriculum planning should take place virtually if possible. In addition, other strategies to increase adult-adult physical distance in time and space should be implemented, such as staggered drop-offs and pickups, and drop-offs and pickups outside when weather allows. Parents should, in general, be discouraged from entering the school building. Physical barriers, such as plexiglass, should be considered in reception areas and employee workspaces where the environment does not accommodate physical distancing, and congregating in shared spaces, such as staff lounge areas, should be discouraged.

The recommendations in each of the age groups below are not instructional strategies but are strategies to optimize the return of students to schools in the context of physical distancing guidelines and the developmentally appropriate implementation of the strategies. Educational experts may have preference for one or another of the guidelines based on the instructional needs of the classes or schools in which they work.

Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K)
In Pre-K, the relative impact of physical distancing among children is likely small based on current evidence and certainly difficult to implement. Therefore, Pre-K should focus on more effective risk mitigation strategies for this population. These include hand hygiene, infection prevention education for staff and families, adult physical distancing from one another, adults wearing face coverings, cohorting, and spending time outdoors.

Higher-priority strategies:

Cohort classes to minimize crossover among children and adults within the school; the exact size of the cohort may vary, often dependent on local or state health department guidance.
Utilize outdoor spaces when possible.
Limit unnecessary visitors into the building.
Lower-priority strategies:

Face coverings(cloth) for children in the Pre-K setting may be difficult to implement.
Reducing classmate interactions/play in Pre-K aged children may not provide substantial COVID-19 risk reduction.


....

Face Coverings and PPE
Cloth face coverings protect others if the wearer is infected with SARS CoV-2 and is not aware. Cloth masks may offer some level of protection for the wearer. Evidence continues to mount on the importance of universal face coverings in interrupting the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Although ideal, universal face covering use is not always possible in the school setting for many reasons. Some students, or staff, may be unable to safely wear a cloth face covering because of certain medical conditions (eg, developmental, respiratory, tactile aversion, or other conditions) or may be uncomfortable, making the consistent use of cloth face coverings throughout the day challenging. For individuals who have difficulty with wearing a cloth face covering and it is not medically contraindicated to wear a face covering, behavior techniques and social skills stories(see resource section)can be used to assist in adapting to wearing a face covering. When developing policy regarding the use of cloth face coverings by students or school staff, school districts and health advisors should consider whether the use of cloth face coverings is developmentally appropriate and feasible and whether the policy can be instituted safely. If not developmentally feasible, which may be the case for younger students, and cannot be done safely (eg, the face covering makes wearers touch their face more than they otherwise would), schools may choose to not require their use when physical distancing measures can be effectively implemented. School staff and older students (middle or high school) may be able to wear cloth face coverings safely and consistently and should be encouraged to do so. Children under 2 years and anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance should not wear cloth face coverings.

For certain populations, the use of cloth face coverings by teachers may impede the education process. These include students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students receiving speech/language services, young students in early education programs, and English-language learners. Although there are products (eg, face coverings with clear panels in the front) to facilitate their use among these populations, these may not be available in all settings.

Students and families should be taught how to properly wear (cover nose and mouth) a cloth face covering, to maintain hand hygiene when removing for meals and physical activity, and for replacing and maintaining (washing regularly) a cloth face covering.

[GeddyWrox]

Thanks for that AW. TBH, it still doesn't make me feel much better. But I guess we'll just deal with it if/when it comes.

I just have this fear that the hospitals are going to be overrun again, and then one of us is going to get it and won't be able to get the treatment we need. If one of my kids gets it and dies or has life long complications, I'll forever be pissed at all the selfish aholes who risked everyone else's life because they thought a f'cking cloth mask was an infringement on their civil rights.

[thrill]

Got my test back. Do not have it. Was really hoping I did and was asymptomatic. The rates around here make infection seem inevitable and I would have preferred it before the next peak overruns our medical system capacity.

So 5 people in my close proximity had it and I don't.

[CardsofSTL]

Got my test back. Do not have it. Was really hoping I did and was asymptomatic. The rates around here make infection seem inevitable and I would have preferred it before the next peak overruns our medical system capacity.

So 5 people in my close proximity had it and I don't.

You're immune. Sell your blood to science to save us all.

[mikechamp]

I didn't time this post with thrill's, but it does speak to his (and others) concern about contracting something at a later date. This article is packed with quotes from many different medical professionals. The entire thing is worth the read, and it's not too terribly long.

'We are getting clobbered': Six months into COVID-19, doctors fear what comes next

COVID-19 plus the flu could quickly overwhelm health care systems

On Monday, the World Health Organization marked the six months since a cluster of cases of a mysterious pneumonia in China was reported with a warning that the pandemic is "actually speeding up."

"We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his opening statement. "But the hard reality is: This is not even close to being over."

The aggressive spread of the coronavirus in the U.S., particularly in the Southern and Western states, is a reality many American health care providers face with humility and disgust as they look toward the second half of 2020. The physicians and public health experts who were interviewed hesitated when asked whether they had hope that the U.S. could overcome COVID-19 over the next six months.

Looking ahead to the fall, the coronavirus adds a worrying level of uncertainty to the 2020-21 flu season. According to the CDC, as many as 62,000 people died of flu-related complications during the 2019-20 season. More than 700,000 Americans were hospitalized with flu during that time.

Experts simply don't know yet how the two viruses will interact. "Could it be that if you were infected with influenza, then several days later infected with COVID, that you might be protected from the worst of what COVID could do? Or would it be the opposite?" asked Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert who is director of the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minnesota.

Experts say the U.S. health care system isn't prepared for a simultaneous influx of COVID-19 and influenza. "We know that flu will be around, and that pushes our hospital systems to operate at a hectic level," said Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "We're going to be very stressed with the combination of COVID-19 and the flu."

Flu vaccines, even though they're less than 50 percent effective, will be strongly encouraged this fall to ease the impact on health care systems.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-n ... r-n1232410

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Got my test back. Do not have it. Was really hoping I did and was asymptomatic. The rates around here make infection seem inevitable and I would have preferred it before the next peak overruns our medical system capacity.

So 5 people in my close proximity had it and I don't.

Sorry?

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Thanks for that AW. TBH, it still doesn't make me feel much better. But I guess we'll just deal with it if/when it comes.

I just have this fear that the hospitals are going to be overrun again, and then one of us is going to get it and won't be able to get the treatment we need. If one of my kids gets it and dies or has life long complications, I'll forever be pissed at all the selfish aholes who risked everyone else's life because they thought a f'cking cloth mask was an infringement on their civil rights.

Something to keep in mind, a lot of their recommendations are geared towards the OVERALL good. They acknowledge there is an incomplete understanding, and they acknowledge there is no way to eliminate all risk.

They also acknowledge students receive a better education, generally, while in a classroom; are provided food/safety; can be observed for mood disorders and abuse; and get societal interactions.

For households where education can be maintained, the children are well cared for, and food is not scarce (ie, probably everyone on this board), a lot of the reasons to go back to school are somewhat mitigated.

[mikechamp]

Thanks for that AW. TBH, it still doesn't make me feel much better. But I guess we'll just deal with it if/when it comes.

I just have this fear that the hospitals are going to be overrun again, and then one of us is going to get it and won't be able to get the treatment we need. If one of my kids gets it and dies or has life long complications, I'll forever be pissed at all the selfish aholes who risked everyone else's life because they thought a f'cking cloth mask was an infringement on their civil rights.

Something to keep in mind, a lot of their recommendations are geared towards the OVERALL good. They acknowledge there is an incomplete understanding, and they acknowledge there is no way to eliminate all risk.

They also acknowledge students receive a better education, generally, while in a classroom; are provided food/safety; can be observed for mood disorders and abuse; and get societal interactions.

For households where education can be maintained, the children are well cared for, and food is not scarce (ie, probably everyone on this board), a lot of the reasons to go back to school are somewhat mitigated.

This is a very good point, especially the last sentence.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Well, education being maintained probably isn't everyone on this board, definitely not mine at least