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I am glad that my grandchildren and their classmates will be wearing masks when school starts next week. This is a clear sign that our schools have intelligent leaders who care about the health and safety of our children. Nothing is more important for the future of our community.
We cannot afford to take chances with our children's lives, and I am happy to see that our school board will not allow popular sentiments to be more powerful than scientific information. Nobody wants schools to be closed down the way they were last year, but we want children in schools that are as safe as possible.
The new delta variant of Covid-19 is here, and it is dangerous for kids under 12 because they cannot take the vaccine yet. If everyone who could take the vaccine had done so by July 4th, we might not have such a threat from the variant now. However, too many people are reluctant to trust the medical science that allows us to look forward to a much longer life span than previous generations could have expected.
We owe it to the children to protect them as much as possible. If schools want victory over the virus, teachers need to remember the Four V's: Vocalization, Venue, Ventilation and Vaccine.
Vocalization or speech is the most common way people spread the virus, and masks are the best protection against spreading spittle when people talk. If children are eating together, they should be encouraged to eat silently while the masks are down and plan to talk after lunch is over when they will replace their masks.
Venue means the size of a place where people meet. If a large number of people meet in a huge venue, they increase the likelihood that the disease is present in that space. They may reduce the risk by social distancing and wearing masks, but it is best to limit the number of people who are in a single space. Schools should avoid large assemblies, ball games, and lectures. Teachers can help limit the spread of disease and track the wellness of students by keeping students in small groups known as pods or teams of four or less. If one becomes ill, a group is quarantined.
Ventilation has to do with air flow that will dry out the moisture this virus needs. Ventilation is best outside, but local weather will not always allow teachers to take a class outside. Schools should invest in good ventilation systems that keep air moving to kill the virus. Cleaning filters and vents may improve ventilation, and teachers may use fans to keep air moving. However, summer is a time when people are outside most, and the delta variant is spreading this summer.
Vaccination is the best way we have to stop the most harmful effects of COVID-19 and its delta variant. It is not a guarantee, but it can reduce the likelihood of death and disease. Parents should ask if their children's teachers have been vaccinated to protect their students.