Though it is a tough call, we feel it is a brave step forward by the Government of Tamil Nadu to re-open schools in Feb 2022 considering the present impacts faced by the students in the Online mode. We wish and we hope this move by the Government of Tamil Nadu will bring in necessary change to the well being of the Students. The steps, precautions given below will help you feel assured that your child is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic
1. If you have travelled by public transport use an alcohol sanitizer, to disinfect your hands.
2. Wearing a mask (cover your nose and mouth) and avoiding touching your hand or mouth.
3. If you have to be around people maintain a distance of 2 meters or 6 feet from others around you as much as possible.
4. No mass gatherings like prayers in the School Ground, School Stadiums. In general, any gathering of over ten people should be avoided or conducted virtually.
5. Proper nutrition and hydration are vital. People who eat a well-balanced diet tend to be healthier with stronger immune systems and lower risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases. So you should eat a variety of fresh and unprocessed foods every day to get the vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, protein and antioxidants your body needs.
6. Watch three C's and avoid:
• Crowded places;
• Close-contact settings, (especially where people have conversations very near each other)
• Confined and enclosed
Wearing Mask
Wearing face masks should be a priority especially when it's hard to maintain social distance, such as on the bus, at carpool drop-off or pickup, and when entering the building.
Have multiple face masks available for your child. Provide your child with a clean mask and back-up mask each day and a clean, resalable bag for them to store the mask when they can't wear it, such as at lunch.
Label your child's mask clearly so that it's not confused with another child's.
Practice properly putting on and taking off face masks with your child while avoiding touching the cloth portions.
Remind your child that they should clean their hands before and after touching their mask.
Instruct your child to never share or trade masks with others.
Talk to your child about the importance of wearing a face mask and model wearing them as a family.
Discuss with your child why some people may not be able to wear face masks for medical reasons.
Don't place a face mask on a child younger than age 2, a child who has any breathing problems, or a child who has a condition that would prevent him or her from being able to remove the mask without help.
Keep Hands Clean
Practice hand-washing at home with your child and explain why it's important to wash his or her hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after eating, coughing/sneezing, or adjusting a face mask. To prevent rushing, suggest washing hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. When hand-washing isn't available, suggest that your child use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Also, explain that he or she should avoid touching his or her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Schools should encourage routines that encourage frequent hand-washing and following good hand hygiene practices, such as asking children to cover their mouths and noses with their elbows or tissues when they cough or sneeze and then washing their hands.
If your child attends in-person schooling, develop daily routines before and after school that foster healthy habits, such as packing a back-up face mask and hand sanitizer in the morning and washing their hands as soon as they come home.
Clean and Disinfect
Whether your child is being schooled at home or at school, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces can help reduce the risk of illness. This includes frequently touched items such as doorknobs, faucets, keyboards, tablets and phones.
Find out how your school will communicate with families when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 happens and how they plan to maintain student privacy.