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1/ *SPECIAL #COVID19 REPORT ON SCHOOLS*
-->Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
For those serious about keeping kids and adults safe in schools, it's time to do the hard work and read past the headlines...
[Full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/ ]
![1/ *SPECIAL #COVID19 REPORT ON SCHOOLS*-->Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening SchoolsFor those serious about keeping kids and adults safe in schools, it's time to do the hard work and read past the headlines...[Full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/ ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbWNtz7WsAEMfIT.jpg "1/ *SPECIAL #COVID19 REPORT ON SCHOOLS*-->Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening SchoolsFor those serious about keeping kids and adults safe in schools, it's time to do the hard work and read past the headlines...[Full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/ ]")
-->Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
For those serious about keeping kids and adults safe in schools, it's time to do the hard work and read past the headlines...
[Full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/ ]
2/ In our report, #SchoolsForHealth, we first open with some key considerations before we dive into detailed risk reduction strategies.
Here are guiding principles
Here are guiding principles
3/ We also open by highlighting that THE SAFEST WAY to reopen schools is to do so with community spread under control.
The U.S. has failed, but can still course correct:
#CovidPathForward, a project btwn Harvard #HealthyBuildings team + @CCDD_HSPH https://covidpathforward.com/
The U.S. has failed, but can still course correct:
#CovidPathForward, a project btwn Harvard #HealthyBuildings team + @CCDD_HSPH https://covidpathforward.com/
4/ So, yes, of course we agree that the 1st priority should be limit community spread
But we also need to act in the reality we have, not the one we want (said another way, w/ the govt response we have, not the one we need)
That means we have to start school planning...now.
But we also need to act in the reality we have, not the one we want (said another way, w/ the govt response we have, not the one we need)
That means we have to start school planning...now.
5/ We also spend time in the report recognizing the massive costs to keeping schools closed, and the hard truth that there is no 'zero risk'. In anything.
Many discussions on schools seem to be happening w/o acknowledging the costs.
*School closures are a public health crisis*
Many discussions on schools seem to be happening w/o acknowledging the costs.
*School closures are a public health crisis*
6/ We also open the #SchoolsForHealth report answering Qs on the science, which then informs risk reduction measures:
How is COVID-19 transmitted?
What factors determine exposure?
What factors determine risk?
What do we know about kids spreading COVID?
How is COVID-19 transmitted?
What factors determine exposure?
What factors determine risk?
What do we know about kids spreading COVID?
7/ Only then do we dive into detailed risk reduction strategies across these five areas:
Healthy Classrooms
Healthy Buildings
Healthy Policies
Healthy Schedules
Healthy Actitivies
Healthy Classrooms
Healthy Buildings
Healthy Policies
Healthy Schedules
Healthy Actitivies
8/ In the next tweets I'm going to give *some* of the key strategies we recommend in the next few bullets
But...
I want you to be aware that the full report has supporting *sub-bullets* and *narrative* for each of these strategies.
Full report is here: https://schools.forhealth.org/
But...
I want you to be aware that the full report has supporting *sub-bullets* and *narrative* for each of these strategies.
Full report is here: https://schools.forhealth.org/
9/
HEALTHY CLASSROOMS
• Wear masks
• Wash hands frequently
• Maximize physical distancing to protect individuals
• Maximize group distancing to slow transmission chains
• Disinfect objects btwn uses
HEALTHY CLASSROOMS
• Wear masks
• Wash hands frequently
• Maximize physical distancing to protect individuals
• Maximize group distancing to slow transmission chains
• Disinfect objects btwn uses
10/
HEALTHY BUILDINGS
• Increase outdoor air vent
• Filter indoor air
• Supplement w portable air cleaners
• Verify vent/filt perf
• Consider adv air quality techniques
• Use plexiglass as physical barrier
• Install no-contact
• Keep surfaces clean
• Focus on bathroom
HEALTHY BUILDINGS
• Increase outdoor air vent
• Filter indoor air
• Supplement w portable air cleaners
• Verify vent/filt perf
• Consider adv air quality techniques
• Use plexiglass as physical barrier
• Install no-contact
• Keep surfaces clean
• Focus on bathroom
11/
HEALTHY POLICIES
• Establish and reinforce a culture of
health, safety, and shared responsibility
• Form COVID-19 response team
• Prioritize staying home when sick
• Protect high-risk students/staff
• Support remote learning
• De-densify school buildings
• + 2 MORE
HEALTHY POLICIES
• Establish and reinforce a culture of
health, safety, and shared responsibility
• Form COVID-19 response team
• Prioritize staying home when sick
• Protect high-risk students/staff
• Support remote learning
• De-densify school buildings
• + 2 MORE
12/
HEALTHY SCHEDULES
• Manage transition times and locations
• Make lunchtime safer
• Rethink transportation
• Modify attendance
HEALTHY SCHEDULES
• Manage transition times and locations
• Make lunchtime safer
• Rethink transportation
• Modify attendance
13/
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
• Provide recess
• Modify physical education
• Reimagine music and theater classes
• Continue sports with enhanced controls
• Add structure to free time
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
• Provide recess
• Modify physical education
• Reimagine music and theater classes
• Continue sports with enhanced controls
• Add structure to free time
14/
We also tackle some sticky problems, like sports. We think it comes down to sport *activities*, not sports, per se, with risk influenced by 3 factors:
-location
-spacing
-group size
Here's a decision matrix to help evaluate any sport
We also tackle some sticky problems, like sports. We think it comes down to sport *activities*, not sports, per se, with risk influenced by 3 factors:
-location
-spacing
-group size
Here's a decision matrix to help evaluate any sport
15/ There isn't a sticky area we hid from:
Band and choir?
Recess?
Protecting high-risk adults?
Testing?
School buses?
Mask fatigue?
Lunchtime?
Remote learning?
It's all in there
Band and choir?
Recess?
Protecting high-risk adults?
Testing?
School buses?
Mask fatigue?
Lunchtime?
Remote learning?
It's all in there
16/
The most important strategy we give is this one
*Establish and reinforce a culture of health, safety, and shared responsibility*
The most important strategy we give is this one
*Establish and reinforce a culture of health, safety, and shared responsibility*
17/
I want to thank the entire Harvard #HealthyBuildings team for the depth of research, seriousness with which they took this endeavor, and rich daily discussions. Proud of this team, and what we pulled off.
Read more about our research here: https://forhealth.org/
I want to thank the entire Harvard #HealthyBuildings team for the depth of research, seriousness with which they took this endeavor, and rich daily discussions. Proud of this team, and what we pulled off.
Read more about our research here: https://forhealth.org/
18/
And, last, again...please read the full report.
*SPECIAL #COVID19 REPORT*
Schools for Health
Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
Download the full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/
And, last, again...please read the full report.
*SPECIAL #COVID19 REPORT*
Schools for Health
Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
Download the full report: https://schools.forhealth.org/
