OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – This week’s COVID numbers within the state recommend instances have gone down, however now as students head again to school as early as next week, University of Oklahoma Health medical doctors expect a spike in COVID instances throughout Oklahoma, they usually say it could actually come quick.
Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) are getting ready for doable COVID outbreaks this school 12 months.
OKCPS are regulating comparable protocols to how the earlier school 12 months ended.
Masks are welcome and inspired, plus colleges nonetheless have enhanced cleansing protocols in place.
“All of our buildings and every space in the building has an air ionization system that filters and cleans the air. And so that’s in classrooms, in community spaces, in cafeterias. So, everywhere within a school building and also in the office buildings,” stated Courtney Scott, Executive Director of Communications at OKCPS.
But with a doable outbreak within the school, issues might look completely different.
“The pandemic has prepared us to be able to pivot very quickly into a virtual learning situation. And so, I definitely think that that would be utilized if needed… OKCPS has really been following the guidance of the CDC and the city county health Department, the Oklahoma City County Health Department,” stated Scott.
OU Health Officials say the Omicron sub-variant is extremely contagious and may unfold rapidly.
“This particular variant, the B.5, which dominates, it’s 86% of the cases that are now occurring in our part of the country… And the incubation time from the time you get exposed until you have symptoms is very long,” stated Dr. Dale Bratzler at OU Health, University’s Chief Covid Office.
So, they’re anticipating the COVID surge to occur rapidly once students return to school rooms.
“The way people get infected is breathing it. So anything a school can do to increase air exchanges in their back system, fresh air opening, windows, anything like that actually will help,” stated Dr. Bratzler.
Dr. Bratzler suggests students and workers put on masks inside because it’s been confirmed COVID-19 is transmitted from respiratory and never from surfaces.
“Activities outdoors are generally going to be much safer than activities indoors. So when they’re when it’s feasible, when the weather allows for people to be outdoors, that reduces some of the risk of transmission,” stated Dr. Bratzler.
Oklahoma City Public Schools have a number of completely different plans in place in case your scholar is caught at house with COVID.
They in fact recommend your baby to keep house if not feeling effectively and report it to allow them to preserve monitor of the place the instances are occurring.
“We have our virtual program that people can elect, but if a student is out with COVID, the teachers and the school administration can make those accommodations with families individually to make sure the student has access to learning, even if that’s just, you know, prerecorded lesson so that the student isn’t just sitting at home. And if obviously, if the student is unwell, we want them to rest and get well,” stated Scott.
You can see a full checklist of Oklahoma City Public Schools COVID security plan at okcps.org/covid-19.
OU Health Officials, in fact, additionally recommend to get your baby vaccinated.
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