LincolnHealth is prepared to support our larger community as most schools in the area return to some version of in-person learning. Each school has created a thorough return-to-school plan based on the needs of the particular community, following guidelines from the Maine Department of Education, Centers for Disease Control, and the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We’ve had a chance to review many of the plans, and while we know that certain details will prove challenging for particular students, staff or families, these are good, safe plans created by teams of devoted people who truly care about the communities they serve. LincolnHealth has had a medical advisory role with many of the local school systems for years, and has been meeting regularly since late spring with community leaders to help share our resources and to provide a venue for collaboration between private and public schools, camps, YMCAs, and daycares. We have also been involved in developing protocols to help limit the spread of illness when kids and adults inevitably get sick this fall.

It is important to realize that COVID-19 in children may look different than in adults. Children often do not have any symptoms. Or they may have:

• Fever (100.4F or higher)
• Sore throat
• Upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell.

In other words, it can be very difficult to tell if a child has COVID-19 or another type of illness. In order to protect all students and staff, if your child has any of above symptoms: Keep your child home from school. Call your child’s doctor’s office. Ask if your child should be tested for COVID-19 and how long your child should be kept at home.

No one strategy is going to be enough to ensure safety, but no one strategy has to be perfect. Please wear your mask, and help your kids learn to wear their masks. Are they going to fall off, end up over their eyes, or covered with dirt? You bet! Keep trying. Keep your kids home if they are sick, and call your doctor’s office if you have questions. Continue to keep unnecessary travel to a minimum. Get a flu shot for everyone in the family. Encourage and support your school’s efforts to promote outdoor education!

For the latest COVID-19 updates from the American Academy of Pediatrics, please see www.healthychildren.org

And remember, things will be new. Be ready for change, be ready for new rules, be ready for disappointments, but be ready to rise to new challenges. Kids are particularly resilient!

Anne Barker NP, Catherine Cavanaugh DO, Sheila Carroll MD, Misti Day NP, Cynthia Dechenes MD, Melissa Keeport MD, Tim Goltz MD, Elsa Parson RN, Andrew Russ MD, Katherine Williams NP, Eric Worthing MD, Jennifer Wright NP