ORLANDO, Fla. – Students are set to return to school in Central Florida in August and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a list of safety tips as kids return to class amid the pandemic.
[RELATED: CLICK HERE FOR START DATES FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOLS]
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[RELATED: CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST OF SAFETY TIPS FROM CDC]
The CDC said schools should have social distancing plans in place and have students and staff wear face coverings.
Students should also practice frequent hand-washing.
Districts should also have cleaning and disinfecting plans in place for commonly touched areas of the school.
Health officials encourages schools to use outside space when possible.
Each district should have a contact tracing plan in place, according to the CDC.
Parents of students should know the symptoms of COVID-19 and make sure to not send their child to school if they have any of the symptoms.
Here are the symptoms of COVID-19 from the CDC:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
School officials should also be meeting with local health officials on the most recent guidelines and safety strategies, according to the CDC.
The CDC said around 95% of COVID-19 cases in the country are adult patients, but students could be asymptomatic.
Health officials said students returning to school also has its benefits, including helping kids with communication skills, social interaction skills and interpersonal skills.
The CDC said schools should look into cohorting plans. This is when the same group of students and staff spend the school day in the same area. This strategy would help with limiting the spread in case a student is positive when they attend class. Health officials note this is easier at elementary schools compared to middle and high schools.
Districts should also have plans in place if a student tests positive, according to the CDC.