This is the BEST user-friendly guide I’ve seen so far.

Last week, we talked about masks and air circulation in schools and work places. Lots of schools and workplaces have re-opened at this point (including my kid’s school). I wanted to highlight another user-friendly document for teachers and parents. Parents, you can use this as a guide to see what your schools are doing as you navigate your decisions. I know this document is specifically for schools – but it has lots of great information for workplaces and churches too.

https://schools.forhealth.org/…/Harvard-Healthy-Buildings-P…

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭:
1. Overview – Page 7 provides a very handy visual for all aspects of school. Start there before you read the rest of the document.

2. Air circulation – Page 9 highlights more details regarding air circulation, humidity levels, and ventilation.

3. Lunch schedules and transportation – Page 12

4. Ensuring equity – Page 18 outlines how to re-open while keeping equity in mind.

5. What factors determine exposure and risk? – Page 20 might be helpful to teachers as they assess their own risk within their school’s individual policies.

6. Detailed risk reduction strategies – Page 24 starts detailed plans for several risk reduction strategies. View these as layers to implement together for maximum protection.

7. Helpful visuals – Pages 28, 31, and 34 contain very helpful visuals on distancing between students and ventilation guides (Page 34 has a handy decision-tree).

8. Bathrooms and cleaning – Page 39 and 40

9. Recess and sports- Pages 53 and 55 (check out the handy decision-tree on page 55)

10. Protecting high-risk staff and students – Page 47

I would recommend scrolling through the entire document. The visuals are very helpful and this is an easy-to-read document.

As the document states, there’s no such thing as zero-risk. But large outbreaks are not the other option either. There are ways to do this correctly.

-Friendly neighbor epidemiologist (and mom of 2 who is re-learning long division)