Returning to School and the Community Safely

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

Documents:

• Community town hall: COVID-19 school re-entry (PDF)
• Considerations for the testing and management of children returning to school (PDF)
• Guidance for health care personnel on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in schools during COVID-19 (PDF)
• How to wear a mask (PDF)
• A contact tracer's guide for COVID-19 (PDF)
• Recommended disinfected products (PDF)
• What to do if a student screens positive (PDF)

Videos:

• How to put on and take off a mask (video)
• How to wash your hands (video)

Web pages:

• AAP's guidance for school re-entry
• Helping children wear masks
• John Hopkins' guidance on contact tracing
• Return to sports

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.

Watch our Community Town Hall forum, held at the end of June. Children’s Mercy medical experts share information on what to consider when creating a healthy and safe environment for children going back to school this fall.

If you are planning for your child to return to school or attend a camp this summer, 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, 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 on arrival, such as temperature screening of both staff and children.

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.

Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. While being outside can relieve stress and gives you a chance to get some fresh air and vitamin D, it is important to follow steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The CDC offers the following recommendations for visiting parks and swimming pools:

• State and local authorities will decide whether parks and swimming pools are open. Check with the park in advance to be sure you know which areas or services are open, such as bathroom facilities and concessions, and bring what you need with you.
• Only visit parks that are close to your home. Most travel requires you to stop along the way or be in close contact with others.
• Don’t visit parks if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19.
• Make sure swimming pools are performing health screenings for staff and visitors upon entry.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others. Rearrange deck chairs if needed.
• Avoid gathering with others outside of those from your household.
• Do not use playgrounds, including water playgrounds, located within local, state, or national parks.
• Avoid sharing of equipment at swimming pools (e.g., kickboards, goggles) and toys.
• When possible, bring food from home. If purchasing from a concession stand, be sure food is prepackaged boxes or bags.
• Play it safe around and in swimming pools and follow all safety regulations.

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 summer quickly approaching, 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.