Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Not all families have the same access to computers and highspeed Internet services. If online learning becomes a necessary part of schooling this year, will every kid be guaranteed the access and tech support they need so they don’t fall through the cracks?

Of course, the most important determinant of whether or not schools open on time — and stay open throughout the year — is how safe students, teachers, and school staff will be from coronavirus. And a lot of that depends on how well viral transmission is controlled in each community:

Local school leaders, public health experts, educators and parents must be at the center of decisions about how and when to reopen schools, taking into account the spread of COVID-19 in their communities and the capacities of school districts to adapt

For instance, schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 community spread should not be compelled to reopen against the judgment of local experts. A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for return to school decisions.

The good news in all this is that young children appear to show very few (if any at all) symptoms when they are found to be infected with coronavirus. Older children and teenagers don’t appear to be bothered much either.

The bad news is children are notorious germ dispensers, not likely to cover their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands, or wear face masks properly unless (constantly) reminded. And we know that classmates, teachers and school staff, coaches and teammates, siblings, parents, grandparents and others may be at risk of suffering poor health outcomes if they are inadvertently infected by kids spreading the virus around.

The worst news might be that in the United States, COVID-19 is outsafety protocols to make in-person learning safe and feasible.

of-control at the moment. Here are some statistics as of July 12: > Total cases in U.S. — more than 3.2 million confirmed > Total deaths in U.S. — more than 134,000 > # of states with increasing cases — 37 plus the District of Columbia > # of states with decreasing cases — 2 (New Hampshire and Maine) > # of states with increasing deaths — 21

Cases of COVID-19 are rising in Pennsylvania, including “significant increases” in people between the ages of 19-24. Counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Allegheny County and others, that didn’t experience a surge early in the course of the pandemic are seeing worrisome increases in cases now.

Schools located in states that succeeded in “flattening the curve” and controlling the outbreak may well be ready to open their doors to students again a few short weeks from now. But for other parts of the country reeling from what is still the “first wave” of COVID-19, it will take extraordinary action now (beyond just wearing a face covering in public) to slow transmission, sickness, and death. Until that happens, don’t expect schools in those areas to reopen anytime soon.

www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time. 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. 3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy

Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. 4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. 5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.