The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as a public health, economic and educational crisis. Of grave concern is the continued impact on our education sector and the futureof ourchildren’s education.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs is currently managing the 6 th COVID-19wave in country. To date we have recorded 23, 978 cases.

Given the increase in our daily positivity and infection rates, we expect to see increases in the number of school aged children diagnosed with the virus. What can we do to help ensure our children’s safety and well-being as we continue to navigate the pandemic?

It is crucial that students who are unwell not attend school. They should be assessed and tested for COVID-19 if deemed necessary by the health practitioner. We have learnt that symptoms of COVID-19 vary. Students may present with typical flu like symptoms such as cough, runnynose, fever. Others may have gastroenteritis like symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Some students may complain of headache while others may just be fatigued. If your child complains of feeling unwell, I urge you to do the right thing and get them assessed.

In addition, if one member of the household is experiencing symptoms and is awaitingresultsfor COVID-19, keep other children home until the results are received. It is also important forchildren to be tested if one household member tests positive (meaning they are contacts ofapositive case) to ascertain their status and to ensure the timely return to school.

Contact tracing is a process that relies heavily on the honesty and integrity of the persons involved. The information provided to the Ministry of Health is extremely important in helping us identifytheclose contacts of a case who can subsequently be quarantined and tested at the appropriate time. Ifyou are informed by a representative from the school or the Ministry of Health that your childhasbeen identified as a contact, please keep them in quarantine and observe for development ofsymptoms. Take your child in for testing immediately if they develop symptoms or otherwiseontheday which was indicated for testing. This will help to break the chain of transmission andprevent outbreaks within our schools.

On this point, we have noted increased use of home rapid test kits. While it is useful for screening, the Ministry of Health requires confirmation of these tests with a PCR test. In the interim, it isabsolutely important to report positive home tests to your child’s school so that the necessarystepscan be initiated.

The Pfizer vaccine remains available for our 12-17 year olds which is the most affectedgroupofchildren. Please consider vaccination for your eligible children and of course for yourself.

Personal responsibility cannot be emphasized enough. We all need to continue to observetheprotocols and to speak to our children about doing the same. Washing our hands or sanitizing, properwearing of masks and avoiding crowds have all proven to help reduce transmission. The pandemichas taken a substantial toll on both academics and the mental health of our children. School isabsolutely essential and as our children have returned to the classrooms, let us ensure that weworkto not only maintain a safe learning environment within the schools but in general so that schoolscancontinue to run.

Take time to speak and listen to your child. Ask about their feelings, offer reassurance. Practicekindness and empathy. Remember anyone can contract COVID-19. We must all play our part.

For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit, at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively.