For the last nine months, students throughout San Diego have had a highly unusual school experience. In March of 2020 schools were shut down due the spread of Covid-19. Many of us at San Pasqual High School are wondering when we will go back to school and when things will feel normal again. A local medical professional answers many of our questions about the pandemic and provides information regarding going back to school.

“People in the medical profession are very cautious,” said Dylan Farmer, a local San Diego paramedic. 

He explained that masks are effective but, currently in San Diego, cases are spreading quickly. When asked, “How has Coronavirus affected your profession?” Farmer explained that their training procedures have changed significantly. For one, training is smaller and does not happen as frequently–this is because staff members attending classes have ended up testing positive for Coronavirus. Something else that has changed is the amount of time that is needed in order to disinfect ambulances after carrying a patient that may have had Coronavirus. Farmer had to quarantine for ten days due to members of the training class contracting Coronavirus. He also had to wear masks around the house and described the experience as being “very isolating.”

When asked how safe it would be for students to go back to school he stated, “not safe right now, but they may be safe by June of 2021.” 

He expressed that when we do go back to school, we should do hybrid learning for middle school and high school. However, he does not think that elementary school will be safe to go to for awhile. Due to the young students, many of them may not want to wear their masks or wear them properly. 

The Vista Unified School District already attempted to go back to in person schooling. The Coronavirus quickly began to spread among students and staff and now the Vista schools have returned back to virtual learning.

“There are two new vaccines for Coronavirus” Farmer states. “One is 90 percent effective, the other is 94 percent effective.” 

The less effective vaccine needs to be stored in sub zero temperature. And the more effective vaccine is less accessible at the moment. These two vaccines should be coming out by the end of the year. In terms of who will be getting the vaccines first, the number one priority will be for the vaccines to go to the nursing homes. The next place that will have access to the vaccines will be at hospitals, then the rest of the general population will get the vaccines.

To wrap up our conversation, I asked Dylan to give San Pasqual students some tips on staying safe and healthy during the pandemic. He said, “Keep social distance, wear masks properly, wash and sanitize hands, live a healthy lifestyle, and do not touch your face.” 

According to our local medical professional we should not try to rush to go back to our normal school life too soon. Once everyone gets their vaccines things may start to feel more normal and all of us students will slowly start to see each other more on campus.