Coronavirus: The New Monster in Town — What Schools and Families Need to Know

What Makes COVID-19 Dangerous?

Coronavirus belongs to a family of viruses that have caused previous epidemics — including SARS and MERS — but what made COVID-19 particularly challenging to contain was the combination of its transmission mechanism and its variable symptom presentation.

The virus spreads through the respiratory droplets produced when an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs, or sneezes — the same mechanism as the common cold, which made isolation measures particularly difficult to implement consistently. More significantly, a substantial proportion of infected individuals — particularly younger people — experience mild or no symptoms, meaning they can transmit the virus without knowing they are infected.

Common Symptoms of COVID-19

The most widely reported symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever — often the first and most consistent indicator
• Dry cough — persistent and often distressing
• Shortness of breath — ranging from mild to severe
• Fatigue and muscle aches — often described as more intense than typical cold or flu
• Loss of taste or smell (anosmia) — one of the more distinctive markers of COVID-19
• Sore throat, runny nose, and headache — more common in later variants
• Gastrointestinal symptoms — nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea in some cases

What To Do If You or a Family Member Seems Symptomatic

If you or a family member develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

• Isolate immediately from other household members, particularly older adults and those with underlying health conditions
• Seek medical care and inform the healthcare provider of any recent travel or contact with confirmed or suspected cases
• Do not attend school, work, or any public space until cleared by a medical professional
• Contact the school or workplace to inform them of the situation so appropriate notifications can be made
• Follow the current guidance of national and state health authorities, as protocols evolved significantly over the course of the pandemic

Precautions for Travel

Travel remains one of the primary mechanisms for viral spread across communities and regions. If travel is unavoidable:

• Clean all contact surfaces — airplane seats, tables, armrests, door handles — with alcohol-based disinfectant wipes
• Maintain rigorous hand hygiene throughout the journey — wash hands frequently and use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol when handwashing is not possible
• Wear a well-fitting mask in enclosed public spaces and crowded environments
• Avoid touching your face — particularly eyes, nose, and mouth — with unwashed hands
• Monitor for symptoms in the days following travel and isolate promptly if any develop

Separating Fact from Fiction: The Infodemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by what the WHO described as an 'infodemic' — a surge of misinformation, false remedies, and conspiracy theories that spread at least as rapidly as the virus itself, primarily through social media platforms and messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Some of the most widely circulated myths included claims that drinking certain liquids, consuming specific foods, or applying substances to the body could prevent or cure the virus — none of which have any scientific basis. Others involved conspiracy theories about the virus's origin or the safety of vaccines that contradicted the scientific consensus.

The most reliable sources of information during any health emergency are: the World Health Organisation (who.int), national health ministries, and state public health authorities. Before sharing any health-related claim on social media or messaging apps, verify it against at least one of these primary sources.

COVID-19 and School Education: The Lessons Learned

For schools, the COVID-19 pandemic was a period of enormous disruption — but also of significant learning about what makes education resilient. The schools that managed the transition to remote and hybrid learning most effectively were those that had invested in digital infrastructure, teacher training, and strong parent-school communication systems before the crisis hit.

Rainbow International School's experience during the pandemic period reinforced the importance of the school's core commitments: maintaining strong relationships between teachers and students even at a distance, supporting student wellbeing alongside academic progress, and keeping the lines of communication with families open and honest throughout an uncertain period.