With the phased reopening of schools that started on 8 June when Grade 7s and 12s returned, it is understandable that parents and children are feeling apprehensive and confused as to what to expect going forward.
Aliné Hall, Clinical Quality Specialist: Mother and Child at Mediclinic Southern Africa said that education is power, and explained, “Teaching your children why, for example, it is so important to wash your hands, or why they need to wear and look after their masks at all times, starts with explaining how this virus spreads from person to person and infects your body.”
Covid-19 is spread through droplets. If you are in close contact with someone who is infected, and that person coughs or sneezes without covering his or her mouth and nose, and the droplets land on you, you will become infected.
Covid-19 is also spread by contact. If you touch a surface where these droplets have landed and contaminated it, and you then touch your face, specifically your eyes, nose or mouth after touching that surface, you will become infected.
The following tips were given to ensure children are safe at school:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- Do not touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth, even when wearing a mask
- To prevent contaminating your mask, always wash your hands before putting it on. Wash them again after removing your mask.
- Never touch the inside of your mask
- When using public transport, always wear your mask and keep the seats next to you empty
- Good ventilation reduces the risk of infection, so always keep a window open when travelling on the bus or taxi
- Always try to maintain a distance of at least one-and-a-half metres between you and the next person
- Any mask you wear should be washed with soap and hot water daily. Hang it in the sun to dry and iron it. Make sure you wash your hands after washing the mask.
- Never share your mask
