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But the variant can fuel outbreaks in unvaccinated communities and populations.
A pediatric infectious disease specialist in Colorado, Dr. “We are vaccinating more people every day, but we are not on a trajectory that can stop transmission by the fall,” said Sean O’Leary. “If we can’t do that, pretty much everyone I know on the pitch is very worried about a wave of decline.”
Children are much less likely than adults to get sick from the virus or its derivatives. Less than 2 percent of children with Covid-19 were hospitalized and even fewer – 0.03 percent or less of cases – died. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics. A small percentage may also develop rarely, but potentially serious inflammatory condition.
With an unvaccinated 11-year-old daughter, Dr. Linas said the emergence of the Delta variant is an urgent reason to continue various mitigation measures, especially in primary schools.
What other measures does the agency recommend?
The agency recommends what it calls a “layered” approach, recommending that schools combine multiple mitigation strategies to reduce risk. (This is also “Swiss cheese model”)
In addition to masking, distancing, and vaccinating, schools may administer regular screening tests for the virus. According to the guidelines, fully vaccinated students and staff are not required to participate in screening programs or quarantine if they are in close contact with someone with Covid-19 unless they have symptoms.
The guidelines also highlight the importance of ventilation, encouraging schools to bring more fresh air inside by opening doors and windows or changing HVAC settings. “I’m glad to see that ventilation is particularly mentioned as a standalone element,” said Joseph Allen, an expert on healthy buildings at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. “We’ve been talking about this for 18 months at this point.”
Why doesn’t the CDC set specific standards for schools?
The agency said at this stage of the pandemic, a set of overarching rules doesn’t make sense. Vaccination rates vary widely across the country, and communities with low vaccination coverage may see significant outbreaks, especially as the Delta spreads.
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