Children’s Wisconsin, UW Health Kids and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics are making a plea to Wisconsin communities: Keep kids safe and keep schools open.

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Children’s Wisconsin, UW Health Kids and the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics are making a plea to Wisconsin communities: Keep kids safe and keep schools open. How? Follow public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Children’s hospitals across the country and here in Wisconsin are seeing an alarming increase of patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. In fact, over the last month, positive cases in kids have doubled.

We are very concerned about this trajectory and are asking the community to stay vigilant to keep our kids and communities safe. Please continue to practice safety precautions we know to be effective in limiting the spread of disease, including: 

  •  Wear a mask. Everyone age 2 and above should wear a mask when in public and indoors. Masks work. We know this is true. Wearing a mask consistency over the nose and mouth while indoors is one of the easiest and most important thing we can do right now to ensure that our communities stay healthy and our kids stay in school. 
  • Get vaccinated. Anyone who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine should receive it as soon as possible. It is safe and effective, and the more people who get vaccinated the sooner the pandemic can end. Right now, kids under 12 cannot get vaccinated and not enough of our population is vaccinated to protect them and their parents, grandparents and friends. Review the myths and facts and frequently asked questions resources, and please call your child’s primary care provider if you still have questions. 
  • Watch your distance in public spaces. 
  • Wash your hands. 
  • Only go to school or work or participate in other activities when feeling well. Follow public health guidelines and your pediatrician’s guidance in seeking COVID-19 testing when appropriate. 
  • Make a plan for testing. Find out where your local testing sites are before you need a test. Check with your school district as many of the schools around the state are offering free and convenient options for COVID-19 testing for their students and in some cases family members. Getting quick and timely access to COVID-19 testing for students, families and school staff is an important part of keeping schools open and our communities healthy. To find additional testing locations, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health website.