As students start the new school year, San Diego County’s COVID-19 positivity rate has soared to nearly 21%, marking the second highest rate recorded since the pandemic began.
Dr. Edmund Milder, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Rady Children’s Hospital, highlighted several key guidelines that schools are implementing to safeguard students.
Susan Barndollar, who leads the district’s nursing and wellness department, said it’s important to monitor students’ health.
Barndollar said if parents have questions, they can refer to the district’s website or reach out to the school health office.
“We have a health office, somebody in the health office five days a week between a nurse and a health tech and they can help when you’re not sure whether or not a student can come to school,” she said.
With the start of the new school year, San Diego County now has the second-highest COVID-19 positivity rate since the pandemic started, at almost 21 percent.
Dr. Leading recommendations that schools are putting in place to protect students were outlined by Edmund Milder, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Rady Children’s Hospital.
“You know, the school makes sure you have good air quality. Whenever possible, Milder said, “open windows and go outside.”.
Along with frequent hand washing for staff and students, maintaining good respiratory etiquette, and routine cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces are all essential, according to him.
While masks are not required in the San Diego Unified School District, Milder emphasized the mask’s ongoing significance as a means of stopping the spread of COVID-19. He said, “Masks can help reduce transmission by protecting those who are not infected and preventing the virus from spreading from infected individuals.”.
He advised parents to stay up to date on vaccine boosters and to take the same precautions against COVID-19 as they would against other viruses like the flu and RSV. It only offers transient immunity, he said, even if a child contracted COVID-19 this summer.
The district’s head nurse and wellness officer, Susan Barndollar, stated that keeping an eye on students’ health is crucial.
“It’s best for your student to stay at home if they have a fever and aren’t feeling well,” she advised.
Barndollar advised parents to contact the school health office or check out the district website if they have any questions.
“Our health office is manned by a nurse and a health tech who are available five days a week to assist with concerns about a student’s ability to attend school,” the spokesperson stated.
