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Return To School Safely

By Patricia Roberts

August 14, 2020

August 14, 2020
Return To School Safely


Contact:
Patti Roberts
Public Information Officer
Florida Department of Health in Walton County
Patricia.roberts@flhealth.gov
(850) 401-6353


DeFuniak Springs, Fla. – As in-person learning at schools resumes, everyone in their
households should take steps to stay healthy and protect each other from getting sick.
Practice everyday preventive actions, limit interactions with other people, and stay
informed on
COVID-19 updates.
Back to School Planning: How to protect your family and loved ones
For many families, back to school planning will look different this year than it has in
previous years. Your school will have new policies in place to prevent the spread of
COVID-19. You may also be starting the school year with at-home learning. Whatever
the situation, these tips are intended to help parents, guardians and caregivers plan and
prepare for the upcoming school year.
Children should be advised to do the following:
o Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
o If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer comprised of at
least 60% alcohol. Make sure you are using a safe product.
FDA provides
a list of hand sanitizers consumers should not use
. Adults should monitor
children while they use hand sanitizer.
o Maintain a recommended physical distance from other people, including
other students.
o Avoid sharing objects with other students, including water bottles, devices,
writing instruments and books.
o Monitor how they feel and tell an adult if they are not feeling well.
Develop daily routines before and after school—for example, things to pack for
school in the morning (like hand sanitizer) and things to do when you return
home (like washing hands immediately).
Be familiar with your school’s plan for how they will communicate with families
when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 is identified and
ensure student privacy is upheld.
Older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk
for serious illness from COVID-19. If your household includes anyone who is at
increased risk, then all family members should exercise the appropriate precautions.
People who live in multi-generational households may find it difficult to take precautions
to protect themselves from COVID-19 or isolate those who are sick, especially if space

is limited. It is important to understand potential risks and how to adopt different types of
prevention measures to protect your family and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC recently created guidance for
multi-generational households. Although the
guidance was developed as part of the CDC’s outreach to tribal communities, the
information could be useful for all families, including those with both children and older
adults in the same home. You can also contact your local health department for
guidance.
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About the Florida Department of Health
The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works
to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated
state, county and community efforts. For more information about the Florida Department
of Health please visit
www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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