Parents and educators now have some guidance from the local health unit as students prepare to return to class next month.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has released its Safe Return to School Toolkit. The 41-page document, which is accessible on the health unit's website, lists eight strategies designed to support a safe return to class for students, teachers, and educational staff in September.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said with the region now in Stage 3 of economic reopening, the toolkit is an essential weapon in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
"Since we are the last region to move forward, we will have fewer weeks' worth of information to build on, less time to ensure case counts remain low, and a greater urgency to get the plan right," said Ahmed in a media release. "It is therefore critical that there be a safe plan in place to enable our children and all of those who support them in our schools to return to classrooms. As a member of this community and a parent of two kids returning to the classroom, the safe reopening of our schools is personally important for me as well."
The eight strategies are assessing risk for staff and students, reducing the risk of virus spread, having policies in place to protect school communities, and creating communication plans for staff training. The others include safe school transportation, working effectively with third-party food vendors, monitoring risk, and considerations not previously covered.
Several key recommendations have been made from the eight strategies, including the maintaining of current safety guidelines in the classroom, safe options for transportation, and regular cleaning of school buildings.
"Everyone in our community has an important role to play in making the return to school safe," said health unit CEO Theresa Marentette. "The safest thing for our children is for our community to have a low burden of disease. That means all of us doing our part by continuing to follow public health measures, including staying home when sick."
