It’s that time of year again. Stores are stocked with school supplies, teachers are working on their lesson plans, and kids are squeezing in as much summer fun as they can before heading back to class. Some aspects will always stay the same, but due to the pandemic, returning to school looks quite different this fall. Keeping students and faculty safe is the most important goal. That’s why, throughout the US, schools continue to adapt to an ever-changing landscape to ensure that everyone is protected.

The CDC released guidelines for the new school year stating that “students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.”¹ So how exactly can we accomplish that?

With the rise of multiple COVID-19 variants, children under 12 being unable to receive the vaccine, and multiple other variables, it’s now more crucial than ever to make sure a proper strategy is in place. The CDC’s update stresses the importance of having a multilayered prevention and disinfection program to keep students and faculty safe.

Handwashing and wearing masks are vital to prevention—but they aren’t enough on their own. The CDC recommends adding in UV disinfection to a layered plan when stating “consider using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplement to help inactivate SARS-CoV-2.”² By employing proven technology that has been used to disinfect spaces for over 100 years, we can ensure schools stay open safely. PURO devices do not have filters that need changing like HEPA products and are much safer than bi-polar ionization since it does not emit ozone. Plus, because it doesn’t depend on the use of chemicals, it’s healthier for students, educators, and janitorial staff—not to mention our planet.

UV disinfection devices are one of the most powerful and proven protection tools by disinfecting air and surfaces from not just SARS-CoV-2, but from influenza, MRSA, C. diff, C. auris, other MDROs, and the many emerging pathogens of the future. 

Let parents, students, and faculty know they’re protected when returning this fall by employing the safest and most sustainable recommended technology. After all, school should be a positive experience for all children…a place for learning new and exciting things, socializing with friends, and having fun—not getting sick. Let’s do everything we can to protect, prevent, and prepare for the future with PURO UV disinfection.

¹https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

²https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html