Beloved community, This week, our NYC children went back to school for full time in-person learning. According to the Department of Education there are 1,094,138 students in the New York City school system and of those students 73% are categorized as “economically disadvantaged”. If there’s anything that the pandemic has made painfully clear it's that we were struggling before Covid-19 therefore we are struggling even more so and harder now.
With the advent of a vaccine, and the world opening up more and more some feel with are out of the pandemic and now on the road to recovery. The reality is that now more than ever we must remain vigilant. We must understand we are NOT on the road to recovery we are still in RESCUE mode.
Our communities remain divided , concerned and in some cases even fearful and rightfully so about sending our precious children back into a school in person setting. Rather than get bogged down in the fear of it all, let's discuss some practical talking tips we should be sharing with our children and each other regarding returning to school in a pandemic and keeping them safe..
Let's not focus on fear, and the division and focus on the one thing we all agree on when it comes to returning to school We all want our children to return home safely to us each day! There are some things that we can speak to our children about regarding staying safe.
I am sure on this list there are some items that we all can agree upon and where the others are concerned please remain open to the possibility that they too can be helpful in helping us all stay safe including our children.
Here are some things to do to stay safe.
1. Teach and continue Handwashing Practices
Practice hand-washing at home with your child and explain why it's important to wash his or her hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, coughing/sneezing, or adjusting a face mask. To prevent rushing, suggest washing hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. When hand-washing isn't available, suggest that your child use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Also, explain that he or she should avoid touching his or her eyes, nose, and mouth. If your child attends in-person schooling, develop daily routines before and after school that foster healthy habits, such as packing a back-up face mask and hand sanitizer in the morning and washing their hands as soon as they come home.
2. Clean and disinfect
Whether your child is being schooled at home or at school, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces can help reduce the risk of illness. As much as possible send your child with a bag of wipes and teach him/her to wipe down thier desk and chair this includes frequently touched items such as doorknobs, faucets, keyboards, tablets and phones.
3. Wear a mask
The CDC and WHO recommend wearing face mask in indoor public spaces and outdoors where there is a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as at a crowded event, and schools are no exception. This advice is based on data showing that people with COVID-19 can transmit the virus before realizing that they have it. If your child's school requires or encourages the use of cloth face masks, consider these tips:
· Wearing cloth face masks should be a priority especially when it's hard to maintain social distance, such as on the bus, at carpool drop-off or pickup, and when entering the building.
· Have multiple cloth face masks available for your child. Provide your child with a clean mask and back-up mask each day and a clean, resealable bag for them to store the mask when they can't wear it, such as at lunch.
Label your child's mask clearly so it's not confused with another child
Practice properly putting on and taking off cloth face masks with your child while avoiding touching the cloth portions.
Remind your child that they should clean their hands before and after touching their mask.
Instruct your child to never share or trade masks with others.
Talk to your child about the importance of wearing a face mask and model wearing them as a family.
Discuss with your child why some people may not be able to wear face masks for medical reasons.
Don't place a face mask on a child younger than age 2, a child who has any breathing problems, or a child who has a condition that would prevent him or her from being able to remove the mask without help.
4. Eat well, be active, and get enough sleep. Make sure children drink plenty of water, limit sugary drinks, and practice healthy eating at home and school to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight and to support brain development and healthy growth.
5. Have conversations. Candid, age-appropriate conversations with your children will help them know they are not alone. Although we do not have all the answers, scientists, health experts, parents, teachers, and other leaders are working hard to ensure their health and safety.
6. Prevent separation anxiety. Children may feel nervous about going back to school and being apart from family members. Have conversations about school and develop tools for your child to feel connected to home, such as notes in their lunchbox, or a family photo they can bring to school.
7. Make time for daily checkins. Your children may react to changes in their routine in various ways. Be ready for some behavior changes — such as acting out in younger children and quietness in teens. Before bed is a good time to listen to your child recount events and feelings from the day. This extra time provides a safe environment for children to express their emotions and you and helps them to know they are supported and not alone.
8. Immunizations and wellness exams It is especially important for students to be up-to-date on all their immunizations, including the flu vaccine, during the pandemic. Being caught up on health checks and exams will avoid outbreaks of other illnesses that threaten to keep children home more.
9. Consider Vaccination if appropriate All adults and children over age 12 currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccines are eligible to be fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine such as Johnson & Johnson's. If you have concerns please talk with knowledgeable professions to help you arrive at your decision regarding whether to vaccinate your child. Currently Pfizer is the vaccine recommended for children under age 12-17
10. Get tested The CDC recommends screening testing be offered to students who have not been fully vaccinated when there are higher levels of COVID-19 cases in the community. Testing screening can also offer added protection for schools that are not able to provide optimal physical distance between students. Screening testing should be offered to all teachers and staff who have not been fully vaccinated.
If you have any other questions or concern, do not hesitate to reach out to us at Betances for help. We remain partners with you and our communities and are here to service all.
More Vaccine Information:
It has never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination in New York City. New Yorkers 12 years and older can now get the COVID-19 vaccine at sites across the five boroughs. To find out where to get vaccinated and to make an appointment, visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or you can also call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).
NYC also offers in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to any city resident who requests one. You can also request whether you want the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Schedule your appointment today for your in-home vaccination by filling out this form: http://nyc.gov/homevaccine.
You can also call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to learn more.
At Betances Health Center we provide COVID testing and the Moderna Vaccine Monday - Saturday call us for assistance. 212 608-7224 English /Spanish, 212 608-7225 Chinese.
Need to talk more ... call us at 212-227-8401 so that we can connect you to help or a listening ear.
Yours for Better Health ,
Tina Horton, Director of Marketing and Community Relations and
A concerned Mom and Parent
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