Could the start of the school year trigger a new wave of coronavirus?

On September 1, thousands of children across Russia will go toschool, and students go to university classes. For many, this raises concerns about how quickly the coronavirus could spread again. Indeed, since the end of the quarantine, these will be the first most massive gatherings of people in one place. And although there are theories that the coronavirus is not spreading among children as actively as among adults, no one can guarantee that this will not be one of the reasons. new wave of COVID-19... So, in the USA, where training sessions have already begun,More than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students were recently recorded, and 1,600 students and educational staff were sent home after contact with them. Some schools have switched to online learning again.

If precautions are not taken, the virus outbreak could recur

Content

• 1 Is it dangerous to open schools in the coronavirus?
• 2 Are children carrying coronavirus?
• 3 How does the coronavirus affect children?
• 4 How to keep children safe from coronavirus?

Is it dangerous to open schools in the coronavirus?

Schools in Mississippi, Tennessee, Nebraska and others have also reported multiple cases, quarantines and temporary closings.

Deciding whether to open schools and universities foractivities during a pandemic is quite difficult. Children often do better in school, where they have direct contact with teachers and gain the social experience they need with other children. But these children also run the risk of passing on a dangerous illness to their teachers and to each other's families, without even knowing they have the virus.

Large-scale testing of employees of medical institutions for coronavirus began in Moscow on August 20, but it is not a fact that the regions will do the same responsibly.

Are children carrying coronavirus?

COVID-19 was originally thought to be causingminimal impact on children and they do not spread it the way adults do. However, a study by Korean scientists, published in July, found that older children between the ages of 10 and 19 are as likely to transmit the virus to others as adults. A hospital in Chicago generally found that children under 5 had more contaminated material in their upper respiratory tract than adults.

COVID-19 outbreak at a summer camp in Georgia, USAclearly showed how susceptible children of all ages are to infection: 51% of holidaymakers aged 6 to 10 tested positive, as did 44% of children aged 11 to 17.

Trends in the incidence of coronavirus among children in the United States

How does coronavirus affect children?

In children, the symptoms of coronavirus are usually morelighter than adults. In a young body, the coronavirus can manifest itself as fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, nausea or diarrhea. At the same time, studies show that children may have more stomach problems from coronavirus than adults.

But this does not apply to all children. Some of them died after contracting COVID-19, while others have developed serious complications after they seemingly recovered.

Like adults, children face higherrisk of developing severe symptoms if they have co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, lung disease, a suppressed immune system, congenital heart defects, and serious genetic, neurological, or metabolic disorders. And children without any of these conditions can also end up in intensive care units due to COVID-19.

In very rare cases, after a few weeksafter infection with COVID-19, children develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, including fever, rash, gastrointestinal problems, inflammation, shock, and heart damage. At least six children in the United States have died from this.

It is a major concern that children who are infected but do not have symptoms may quietly spread the disease to their teachers and friends, who then spread it further.

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How to keep children safe from coronavirus?

In any case, on September 1, most schools anduniversities will open their doors. It is not yet clear what rules the training will follow, but scientists from the United States have prepared a list of recommendations on how to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection in the new academic year.

• Check everyone for symptoms every morningCOVID-19 including temperature measurement. But keep in mind that the virus begins to spread before symptoms appear. Conduct rapid tests if possible. These tests will help identify people who are contagious but have no symptoms. Although they are not as accurate as full-fledged ones, they will still allow you to identify carriers of the virus.



Checking for COVID-19 symptoms is one precautionary measure

• Research shows that coronavirus spreads primarily through the air. It is necessary to ensure the circulation of fresh air in the room.
• Masks can limit spreadvirus by an infected person. In Russia, they want to oblige all teachers to wear masks starting from the new school year, but students will be without masks. This is hardly correct.
• Increase the interval between children in lessons ifit is possible. For example, sit them one at a time. If possible, conduct classes outdoors. Make teaching within the same classroom so that teachers come by themselves, and students do not change classrooms.
• Carry out additional disinfection of surfaces - desks, bathrooms and door handles.

COVID-19 provides an opportunity to reflect oninequalities and learning disabilities that many students will face without school. Either way, all parties in the school community will need to work together to develop innovative, sustainable solutions that enable them to study effectively in a pandemic. And, most likely, online. Otherwise, if you do not follow the precautions, we run the risk of encountering new wave of coronavirus.