FRISCO, TEXAS – As the world starts to transition from a virtual world back to in person, there seem to always be hindrances, namely new Covid variants, on the road to getting back to normal, pre-Covid times. The newest Covid variant which has hit the U.S hard in the past month or so is the Omicron variant. The ideal way to make sure you don’t get sick during this new surge of cases would be to stay home as much as you can. But for students in Frisco ISD where there is no virtual school alternative, this is simply not an option. However, there are still several ways to stay safe in school during Covid times.

Practice reasonable social distancing
One of the best ways to make sure you stay safe from Covid is simply to maintain a reasonable distance when you can. This may not always be the easiest in school, where you often have to interact with other students, but when you can make sure to try to stay approximately six feet apart.

Take necessary precautions
At the end of the day, your health is in your hands, no matter what you believe. Do what you feel you need to to keep yourself safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the vaccine for immunization to Covid, stating on their website that “CDC is endorsing updated recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the prevention of COVID-19”.

Wash your hands frequently
Washing your hands is so incredibly effective in stopping the spread of Covid in schools. You should make sure to wash your hands with soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. This not only keeps you safe from Covid, but gets rid of all the other germs that might be on your hands as well, so washing your hands is always a good idea, even when we are not in a pandemic.

Sanitize!
It may be a little challenging to be able to wash your hands frequently while in school, so sanitizing is another great option. Research has shown that alcohol-based hand sanitizer is effective in protecting against viruses, so it is a good idea to keep some in your bag and use it frequently.

Make sure to take care of your mental health
Covid has several obvious physical effects, but it is important to recognize the mental effect of this pandemic as well. During these unprecedented times, be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to be taken care of from time to time. Self care, whatever that may look like for you, is a great way to take a mental break and check in with yourself.

With a new wave of Covid sweeping through the country once again, it may seem difficult to deal with. However, if we all take the necessary steps to keep ourselves safe, things will be back to normal soon!