Safety First As Schools Reopen—Protecting Campus Communities from COVID-19

Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service

As of August 1, more than 11,158,934 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to people across Los Angeles County. Of these, 6,190,247 were first doses and 4,968,687 were second doses.    With schools preparing to reopen for fall semester over the next few weeks, officials for the county public health department and nation’s second-largest school district announced new COVID-19 guidance and policies this week aimed at keeping staff and students safe. Safety for campus communities is the top concern for LA County officials as K-12 schools reopen on Aug. 16.

Top LA County officials discussed the safety measures in place to protect students, their families, teachers, administrators from COVID-19 – including masking, vaccine availability, social distancing, testing, mental health counseling, and more at the EMS briefing on August 4, 2021.

Amid the rising numbers of infections due to the Delta variant, Los Angeles County reinstated an indoor facemask mandate for all residents regardless of vaccination status. Students who attend classrooms in person are expected to wear masks and practice physical distancing when possible.

Face coverings will continue to be required indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status, including during indoor PE classes, unless a person is alone in a room. Students who are exempt from mask wearing because of a documented disability or other condition should not be excluded from in-person education, and appropriate accommodations should be made on a case-by-case basis. Students who are excluded from campus because they elect not to wear a face covering should be offered alternative educational opportunities.

Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Chair of LA County Board of Supervisors, 1st District Supervisor said getting vaccinated is the best option before us to fight this pandemic. Our children shouldn’t have to compromise any more of their educational experience or time in school due to the increase in community spread. So get vaccinated, added Solis.

Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo, LA County Office of Education said schools have had very little spread of COVID-19. “If we follow all layers of strategies like wearing our masks, washing our hands, physically distancing ourselves, and really encouraging everyone who can get vaccinated, we are really confident that schools are safe places,” Duardo said. “I think looking at the data and the evidence tells us that schools are probably the safest place for students to be to prevent the spread of COVID,” he said.

Dr. Nava Yeganeh, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and MedicalEpidemiologist, LA County Department of Public Health Yeganeh outlined several safety measures that students can take when they return to in-person learning. “The first step you can take of course is to vaccinate them if they are eligible for the vaccine,” Yeganeh said. The second item on Yeganeh’s list was making sure each student wears a mask that fits them well. Third, Yeganeh said, is “talking to your kids about how he feels each morning and how to take care of himself at school.”

Dr.Jasmine Eugenio, Pediatric Senior Physician, LA County Department Health Services said this school year will be different. We have to talk to our kids how they feel and mentally prepare your child for the new normal. She added we need to explain to children that the reason that older people were vaccinated first, is that the virus is more dangerous to them. Parents have to reassure children that the vaccine is highly effective and very safe against COVID-19, especially with concern surrounding the Delta variant. Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care.