Love in the Time of CoronaVirus ~ Thank You & Phase 2
By Dr. Francesco Gesualdo, pediatrician
During the lockdown, the authorities have often rightly expressed their gratitude towards the healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, pharmacists, supermarket clerks and all the categories that have contributed to the continued functioning of our society by putting their own health at risk, in this difficult and surreal period.
Yet never a word has been addressed to parents, babies and children. Parents, children and young people have never been mentioned in this outpouring of gratitude. Sometimes, if we are not mentioned, we feel left out. And this is something that to me, personally, as a dad and as a pediatrician, still does not sit right.
Although it is not my place, I still want to say: thank you.
To all of the parents, thank you. Thanks to the parents who worked during the lockdown, often with more intense rhythms than usual. To those who had to face difficult job changes, in some cases, to the loss of their jobs, and despite this, managed to remain a point of reference for their children. To all the parents who had to improvise teaching to compensate for the lack of school and the shortcomings of the online education system. To all the parents who had to turn into their childrens’ friends every day, thanks to those who had fun playing games and to those who got bored, thanks to those who laughed during the game and those who quarreled. Thank you for explaining the coronavirus to your children and for welcoming and addressing their fears. For the pampering you have given to your children, and also for when you have lost your patience. For the times you’ve been silent and for the times you’ve apologized. Thanks for continuing to be their guide, their starry sky.
And then, above all, thank you, children! Thanks for waiting. For making us laugh. For having conceded to confusion, anger and occasionally despair. For the dances and the songs. For understanding, for resisting, for finding your way.
And at this point, let’s move on to practical things:
How to deal with phase 2
Many indications have been given. Many of these contradict each other. Here are the behaviors that, according to the available scientific evidence, can really make a difference:
- Wear masks when meeting with others. Even outside, when chatting with other people. Wearing the mask is not intended to protect yourself, but others. The mask drastically reduces the amount of droplets (the now famous droplets that can contain the virus, if you are infected) that are emitted by us into the environment. The mask reduces the possibility of infecting others (which is possible even if we are asymptomatic). For this same reason, it is very important not to wear masks with a filter. These, in fact, could actually worsen the emission of the virus into the environment by the wearer.
- As for children: avoid putting masks on children under 2 years of age, above 2 years, you can ask them to wear it, but don’t insist. Above 6 years of age it is helpful for children to wear a mask whenever they have contact with other people. In the open air you can avoid wearing a mask if you can maintain the safety distance. It is not advisable to wear a mask if you are exercising outdoors but you should maintain social distancing.
- Maintain the safety distance, at least one meter, but even more if it is possible.
- Meet other people with caution. The lack of sociability was one of the most intense issues to be addressed during the quarantine. Especially for children over 3 years of age. Social life serves our well-being, like a vitamin. That’s why you meet other people, but always do it carefully. It is safer to choose a few people or a few families to meet with, even with frequency, rather than meet, albeit sporadically, dozens of different families.
- Special attention regarding grandparents. We know that older people are the ones who risk the most. Always wear a mask when you are with the grandparents, and always ask them to wear it. Try to avoid eating with them, try, whenever possible, to meet outdoors and keep a safe distance.
