WHY YOUR KIDS’ PLAYGROUND IS UNSAFE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC…..
The coronavirus can stick around on surfaces for a long time. It takes 72 hours for the virus to become undetectable on plastic, about 48 hours on stainless steel and cardboard, and 8 hours on copper. Even if kids are practicing social distancing on the playground, they’re still touching the same surfaces as all the other kids. And kids are constantly moving from one part of the playground to another and are quite prone to touching their faces, nose, eyes, etc., at intervals. Therefore, if they happen to touch an object with the novel Coronavirus, the chances of getting infected are very high. Though their illness is apt to be mild, kids can still be active carriers of COVID-19 before any symptoms emerge. Above all, given their ages, they do not understand the importance of social distancing.
Hence, a few recommendations for parents and caretakers;
- Avoid outdoor playing as much as possible.
- Make sure kids wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
- Periodically clean and disinfect high-touch surface areas like tabletops, chairs, remote controls, doorknobs, toilets, and light switches.
- Launder plush toys and stuffed animals in the washing machine. Wash kid’s clothes separately from those of family members who are in quarantine.
- Keep kids away from any family member who is sick with the virus and quarantined.
