Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They'll be carrying germs, too. These viruses and bacteria will be agents that cause the common cold, influenza, norovirus, COVID-19, strep throat and more.
There's a reason why boxes of tissues and sanitizing wipes show up on most school supply lists. As a with experience in , I have spent the past several years helping the public understand how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, especially the flu and COVID-19. Here are some ways to minimize illness transmission from school to home.
COVID-19 cases likely to rise In what call the , COVID-19 infections have been increasing throughout the summer of 2024. As of July 30, 2024, the number of COVID-19 infections has grown or is likely to . Summer heat waves .
And as record-setting temperatures continue driving this trend, the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to increase. This increase is expected to extend into the 2024–25 school year. Currently, COVID-19 variants KP.
3 and KP.3.1.
1 are the . These variants are among the , nicknamed after the . These variants spread more easily from person to person and are able to .
These highly contagious COVID-19 strains, combined with the that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in March 2024, are likely to increase classroom disease transmission this coming school year. These apply to all , not just COVID-19. The new guidelines recommend that everyone stay home w.