As students across Canada get ready to head back to school — some after nearly six months of being away — parents have many questions. The first is usually, “Is it safe to send my child back to school during the pandemic?”
The answer depends on many things.
The situation in your community:
The risk of COVID-19 related illness in schools depends on how much virus is in a community. Your local public health authority is the best source of this information and is giving updated guidance to schools as the pandemic evolves. Right now, the number of people affected with COVID-19 in the Maritimes is very low. Schools have protocols in place to reduce the risk of transmission, and there are plans to keep school partially open or closed completely if local outbreaks occur.
The risk of your child getting sick:
If your child has health issues, you should discuss your child’s risk of COVID-19 related illness with their specialist. Children and adolescents who are potentially immunocompromised include those who have:
Generally, immunocompromised patients have higher rates of severe disease and hospitalization with COVID-19. However, it appears that this risk is similar to other common viruses, like influenza or chicken pox, and is lower in children than in adults.
Immunocompromised children are more likely to follow public health measures, including isolation, physical distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing. These remain important safety measures for everyone.
In general, children who have asthma, diabetes, congenital heart disease, autism, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorder, and other chronic conditions who are not described above are not considered significantly immunocompromised. If you have questions about whether your child is considered immunocompromised or not, please consult your health care provider.
Your child’s overall health and well-being:
School closures, along with other restrictions on activities and socializing, may affect children’s physical, social, and emotional well-being. There are potentially serious consequences for children not attending school. This is true for childcare settings as well, where optimal language and social development requires interaction with other children.
With all these considerations in mind, IWK recommends:
August 24, 2020
This document has been prepared by the pediatric Infectious Diseases Division and the Hematology & Oncology Division of IWK Health, in partnership with the Pediatric Provincial Advisory Group.
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