Surviving COVID-19: Bringing Students Back to Campus
Lawmakers, school districts and parents debate the merits and pitfalls of opening campuses
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States, lawmakers, school district leaders, and parents are debating and discussing the merits and pitfalls of bringing students back into the classroom this fall. While some schools in high transmission areas have already decided to begin the year with virtual learning, the debate rages on with experts pointing to an education crisis among underserved households where children may not have access to adequate resources such as devices or the Internet.
Furthermore, higher education institutions and private schools run the risk of losing millions of dollars in tuition because of students who are unwilling to pay high prices to learn from their living rooms.
The state of Arizona is one of the hardesthit regions in this second wave of COVID- 19. University of Arizona president Robert Robbins told CNN, “There is a risk and reward with reopening the campus — some say it’s not worth it and remote learning is still the way to go, but there are clear beneffts to being on campus.” The University of Arizona announced earlier this month that inperson classes will resume this fall. Robbins also told CNN, “However, our semester is not going to look the same. We have a responsibility to protect the health of everyone on campus.”
The University of Arizona and countless other schools across the United States are turning to technology to help combat the spread of COVID-19 on campus. From virus killing UV lights to contact tracing systems, private enterprise is innovating and enhancing solutions that will protect our children. Below we take a look at the latest tech and trends available on the market and what educational institutions should consider about each one.
Automated Temperature Checks
A fever has become a quick determining factor of someone contagious with COVID-19. According to the FDA, “non-contact” temperature scanning systems can be an effective way to identify and triage people who have elevated temperatures. Companies are turning to temperature tracking infrared cameras to help spot sick people from a safe distance, and schools are beginning to follow.
