Returning to School and the Community Safely

Below are more resources to aid you with school re-entry.

Screening:

• What to do if a student has COVID-19 symptoms (PDF)
• Return to school considerations for COVID-19 symptoms (PDF)

Masks:

• How to wear a mask (PDF)
• How to put on and take off a mask (video)
• Helping children wear masks

Virtual Learning:

• Teacher virtual learning tips (PDF)
• Virtual teaching strategies (video)

Cleaning and Disinfecting:

• Recommended disinfectant products (PDF)

Town Halls:

• Community Town Hall: Kids, COVID and our KC community (video)
• Community Town Hall: COVID-19 school re-entry (video)
  
• Community Town Hall: COVID-19 school re-entry (PDF)

Sports:

• Return to sports

Other resources to help with school reopening and operations.

• AAP's school re-entry guide
• CDC's checklist for planning in-person classes (PDF)
• CDC's contact tracer's guide (PDF)
• John Hopkins' contact tracing guide
• Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) School Guidance October 2020 (PDF)
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 Cases – see School Gating Metrics
• Mid-America Regional Council's Kansas City COVID-19 Data Hub – see School Gating Criteria Metrics
• Missouri Show Me Strong Recovery Plan COVID-19 in School Districts Resources
• Missouri’s BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Program for K-12 Institutions (PDF)
• NASN's personal protective equipment (PPE) guide (PDF)
• National COVID-19 School Response Dashboard (Emily Oster)
• Risk Assessment and Testing Protocols for Reducing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in K-12 Schools (PDF)
• Operating schools during COVID-19: CDC's Considerations

If you have any COVID-19 school re-entry questions or would like to request a consultation, please fill out and submit a COVID-19 School Assistance form. We will get in contact with you as soon as possible.

The holidays are generally a time for people to reconnect with family and friends, but it is important to remember you can spread the virus that causes COVID-19, even when you feel healthy, and others may spread it to you. Children's Mercy has complied some tips and suggestions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to help keep everyone safe:

• Celebrating the holidays during COVID-19

The CDC offers the following recommendations to keep communities safe while resuming peer-to-peer learning and providing critical support for parents and guardians returning to work, make sure the following actions are being taken:

• Frequently touched surfaces are cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected multiple times per day. (Examples: playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains.)
• School buses are cleaned and disinfected, and children are kept 6 feet apart while on the bus.
• Student and staff groupings are as static as possible by having the same group of children stay with the same staff (all day for young children, and as much as possible for older children).
• Mixing between groups is restricted.
• Gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities are limited to those that can maintain social distancing, support proper hand hygiene, and restrict attendance.
• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving other groups are limited.
• Seating/desks are at least six feet apart.
• Communal use spaces such as dining halls and playgrounds are closed if possible; otherwise use is staggered and disinfected in between use.
• Meals are served in classrooms if possible. Meals should be individually plated.
• Arrival and drop-off times should be staggered, or other protocols put in place to limit direct contact with parents as much as possible.
• Social distance between children should be adhered to on school buses.
• Each child’s belongings should be separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, cubbies, or areas.
• Sharing is minimized of high touch materials (art supplies, equipment etc.) or use of supplies and equipment limited by one group of children at a time and clean and disinfect between use.
• Avoid sharing of foods and utensils; electronic devices; toys; books; other games; and learning aids.
• Avoid immediate contact (such as shaking or holding hands, hugging, or kissing).
• Daily health checks, such as symptom and temperature checks, should be done of both staff and children prior to arrival.

The CDC recommends consult with state and local health departments to determine if and how to put into place these considerations. Each community may need to make adjustments to meet its unique needs and circumstances.

The CDC does recommend actions youth sports organizations can take to help lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure and reduce the spread during competition and practice which involve free play, individual training, and virtual team activities through video conference training.

In the meantime, if your child’s teams are starting to practice and compete here are some guidelines to follow:

• If a team member or coach is feeling ill or has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last two weeks, do not attend or participate in any team activities.
• Clean and wipe down any equipment, before and after practice or competition.
• Do not share water bottles, equipment, towels, etc.
• Avoid touching your face or any object unless necessary and wash your hands after.
• No high fives, fist bumps or chest bumps.
• Maintain social distancing from teammates, coaches and other players when taking breaks and between games.
• It is recommended that coaches wear masks or face protection, and masks for athletes are optional unless not actively participating.
• Athletes, coaches, spectators and officials should undergo screening using symptom checklists and temperature checks for all athletes and fans/parents before each practice or competition.
• Consider utilizing a sign-in roster for spectators, participants, coaches and officials to allow for contact tracing.
• Discourage big tournaments that cannot adhere to physical distancing, on and off the field of play.
• Consider limiting competition to single-elimination games, without any double headers and/or limit the number of teams allowed in the building or area of competition at a single time to avoid athletes congregating and to allow for appropriate physical distancing.
• Minimize parents spectating at practices for physical distancing and encourage them to wear masks at competitions, while adhering to social distancing.

The CDC offers the following recommendations to help churches continue their mission while keeping their congregations and staff safe. As we are all aware, gatherings present a special risk for increasing spread of COVID-19, so make sure the following safety actions are being taken:

• The use of a cloth face covering should be used at all gatherings by everyone except children aged two years or younger.
• Frequently touched surfaces are cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected multiple times per day.
• Avoid using items that are not easily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected, especially when it comes to community-type items like prayer books, hymnals and bulletins.
• Limit the size of gatherings in accordance with the guidance and directives of state and local authorities, while considering video streaming or drive-in options for services.
• If appropriate and possible, add additional services to weekly schedules to maintain social distancing at each service.
• Consider holding services and gatherings in a large, well-ventilated area or even outdoors.
• Space out seating so attendees, who do not live in the same household, are all at least six feet apart; consider limiting seating to alternate rows.
• Change the methods used to collect financial contributions. Consider a stationary collection box, the mail, or electronic methods instead of shared collection trays or baskets.
• Avoid food offerings when it is being shared from common dishes.
• Inform congregation members of exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

The reopening of childcare programs is crucial to helping parents and guardians return to work. Most have closed schools for the academic year and, with many schools opting for virtual or hybrid schooling options, an increasing number of working parents may need to rely on daycare programs.

If you are planning to return to taking your child to daycare, make sure the following safety actions are being taken:

• Frequently touched surfaces are cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected multiple times per day. (Examples: playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, tables and counters)
• Items (for example, soft or plush toys) that are not easily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected are not used.
• Classes include the same group of children each day, and that the same child care providers remain with the same group each day. And that mixing between groups is restricted.
• Gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities are limited and those that can maintain social distancing and support proper hand hygiene.
• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving other groups are restricted.
• Seating and bedding (head-to-toe positioning) is six feet apart.
• Communal use spaces, such as game rooms or dining halls, are closed. If this is not possible, use should be staggered, and the area disinfected between uses.
• Arrival and drop-off times should be staggered, or other protocols put in place to limit direct contact with parents as much as possible.
• Each child’s belongings should be separated and in individually labeled storage containers, cubbies, or areas or taken home each day and cleaned.
• If food is offered, have pre-packaged boxes or bags for each attendee instead of a buffet or family-style meal.
• Avoid sharing of foods and utensils; electronic devices; toys; books; other games; and learning aids.
• Avoid immediate contact (such as shaking or holding hands, hugging, or kissing).
• Daily health checks on arrival, such as temperature screening of both staff and children.