An expert has used a fairly simple winter clothing analogy to explain how important it is for schools to follow all public health guidelines when it comes to managing COVID-19 and keeping children safe. It is hard to believe that we are close to the 2-year mark of this global pandemic, and cases are continuing to soar thanks to new variants that have been introduced. Schools have been able to open for in-person instruction again, but they have had to implement strict guidelines. Despite experts pleading for schools to follow the recommended precautions, some school districts, states and parents are still not on board.

The recommended guidelines are to get vaccinated (if able), to wear a mask, and to stay distanced when possible. These methods have been proven to be effective at limiting the spread of the virus, but it can be hard for non-medical parents and educators to read and analyze scientific data showing the effectiveness.

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According to CNN and Awsforwp, an expert has taken to a simple analogy to explain how the guidelines work and they have used winter clothing as their example. The expert is Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician, and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Dr. Leana said that if schools follow all the public health guidance to create what she calls a “layered mitigation strategy,” it can ensure that schools can stay open and that students can be as safe as possible from contracting the virus. She says to think about it as you would think about winter clothing on a bitterly cold, winter day. When it is cold outside, we need multiple layers to help to keep us warm, and the guidelines are no different.

The “colder” it is, the more layers we need. The same is true with the virus, the more serious a virus is, the more layers a person needs to be protected. If someone stays distanced, with no mask or vaccine, they are not going to be as protected as they could be and they are not going to offer much protection to anyone else. However, if a person gets vaccinated (if able), wears a face mask, washes their hands regularly, and tries to keep a 6ft distance, when possible, they are going to be the most protected they can be. They are also going to be in a position to offer protection to others. If every single person in the school system followed these protocols, the community will be safer from the virus.

Sources: CNN, Awsforwp