There is no doubt about it: COVID-19 has changed the shape of history. As people learn more about the global pandemic and how to respond to its impacts, many have increasing questions. For those who have young children, that number of questions quadruples.
Similar to the way that many adults have had to alter their working environments, millions of children have had to do the same for learning environments over the past year and a half. While there are many different views and perspectives on COVID-19, misunderstanding has been a common theme for almost everyone.
For parents with children at long day care centres, many have questions about why so many health and safety protocols are necessary right now. To provide some answers, this article addresses the question: Why is child care health and safety so vital during COVID-19?
Increasing Spread of New Strains
As COVID-19 has spread across the world, so, too, have the number of new variants. As one of the most recent and seemingly deadliest variants to date, Delta has been forcing parents to make difficult decisions in Australia and around the globe.
For some families, rearranging schedules or keeping masks on children has not been easy, but the efforts are not for nothing. Research shows that many COVID-19 health and safety measures have been successful so far, and one of the biggest keys to maintaining an upward trend of effectiveness is by continuing with these measures in the immediate future.
Over the past 18 months, there have been periods of time when masking and social distancing guidelines were not in place, and during each of those times, there were increases in the spread of new COVID-19 variants. Because Australia is currently in the middle of the Delta spread, health and safety measures remain necessary in child care centres around the country.
Nearly 150 Australian Child Care Centre Closures
As of August 2021, nearly 150 child care centres have had to close across Australia due to the Delta variant posing an “immediate risk” to the students who attend. Given this number, child care centres have been paying extra close attention to government health protocols to ensure the safety of children.
Right now, the status of childhood COVID-19 vaccination remains unclear in Australia, and this has put centres in an even more challenging position. For this reason, conducting health and safety best practices is one of the most effective ways that child care centres can do their part to help reduce the spread of the virus to both young people and educators.
Mounting Evidence of Children’s Role in Transmission
Speaking of educators, another major reason COVID-19 health and safety measures remain vital in child care centres is that scientists are increasingly finding that children can transmit the virus, even when unaffected by it themselves. In general, COVID-19 has shown the biggest threat to older adults. For children whose educators may have immunity conditions that prevent them from vaccination, wearing masks in care centres is imperative to their teacher’s health.
In addition, children may pass the virus from one another and then onto each other’s family members once they leave school. Because COVID-19 can impact so many people when it spreads in a school or child care centre environment, practicing good hygiene and safe distancing becomes even more important in these places.
Halting the Spread With Health and Safety Measures
Without a doubt, the only way to halt the spread of COVID-19 is by taking an active role in the health and safety recommendations set out by the health care community. Before sending your children to a school or day care centre, make sure they know good hand-washing techniques, wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Additionally, keep your son or daughter home if he or she is feeling sick. If your child comes into close contact with anyone who has had a confirmed COVID-19 case, you must keep him or her home to quarantine for 14 days. These measures will help halt the spread of the virus.
This year has been hard for everyone, but by working together and following health and safety guidelines, there is no doubt Australian parents, children and child care centres will get through this to see a better tomorrow.
