Dr Shope Interview - 3

1. This past week Reuters was reporting that the SarsCoV2 virus can live on the skin for 9 hrs. We also heard that the CDC is acknowledging that aerosolized virus can spread beyond the 6-ft. rule for physical distancing. Do these findings require any change in current guidance?

2. When taking a group of children outdoors who are part of a bubble group, do you still need to practice social-distancing?

3. One big challenge for ECE professionals is how to be developmentally appropriate while following COVID guidelines especially doing larger group activities in which a variety of materials might be used and cannot be sanitized easily between touches. The example given was “cozy corners.” What strategies or guidance might you be able to offer for navigating this particular challenge?

4. We know that family style dining practices have been suspended during COVID. What about the recommendation that ECE professionals sit at the table and eat with children while they are eating? This, obviously, would be a situation where no one would be wearing a mask.

5. In our last interview, you talked about the challenge for really young children who look at people’s faces and particularly their mouths to know how to respond in a situation and that you have noticed some adaptation on their part as they begin to read eyes more. There have been a few questions come in about how COVID has impacted children living with ASD (many who struggle with sensory issues) and I wonder if you could talk about this and offer some advice as to how to help ECE professionals and parents address the additional challenges that exist regarding following the recommended safety practices such as mask wearing and physical distancing for children with ASD beyond their typically developing peers.

6. Since we opened on September 8 we haven isolating our 5 classrooms all day. So late day numbers are extremely low like 1 or 2 children in each class. Financially it is a burden to budget to have this many teachers when 2 or 3 would be sufficient to manage the group. But from a health and safety view it is safer to continue to isolate. Would it be safe to combine ? Please share your thoughts on this  dilemma.