Wisconsin health officials warned parents not to send their children to school with the coronavirus. Their carelessness could lead to the closure of many facilities in Washington and Ozaukee counties.
Coronavirus in American schools
– The health department has been cooperating with schools since spring. We are preparing a plan to reopen the facilities, says Kirsten Johnson, director of the Washington-Ozaukee Department of Public Health. – However, we never even considered that parents would intentionally send sick children to school.
In Washington and Ozaukee counties, plans to reopen teaching facilities vary. Most plan to teach five days a week. Additionally, they are all very active in implementing measures to prevent transmission of the virus among students. It is planned to start lessons at different times, reduce the number of places in each class and introduce the obligation to cover the nose and mouth.
Students are tested according to a schedule established by the department of public health. In 24 schools, at least one student or staff member tested positive. Of the 15 school districts there, 11 are currently under investigation. In each of them, at least one case or suspicion of infection has already been reported.
Wisconsin, with 19 people from COVID-1268 having died so far, is not the first state to have problems with parents. Outbreaks have occurred in several Connecticut schools. The institutions were closed and the students were sent home. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test on one Massachusetts high school student forced everyone who attended classes with him to submit to a two-week quarantine.
Officials are asking parents not to send their children to school if they are sick or showing symptoms of COVID-19. However, schools are advised to use special tracking software that counts students who pass the test.
Director Johnson announced that both counties will recruit more people to conduct epidemiological investigations. She also advised schools to shut down if they saw an increase in infections.
“We cannot control the behavior of sending sick children to school, but we have never considered that our guidelines could be completely disregarded,” says Principal Johnson. – We want everyone to be safe. Meanwhile, a handful of irresponsible parents could lead to the closure of many institutions – he adds.
See also:
- Less than 10 percent Americans have developed antibodies against the coronavirus. Latest research results
- Popular Epidemiological Model Predicts: Over 378 Americans Will Die From COVID-19 By The End Of The Year
- The rate of positive tests for COVID-19 in Poland and Europe. What does it say about the development of the epidemic? [WE EXPLAIN]
- Coronavirus in children. How do you know when something is wrong? Important advice from a pediatrician