Should my child participate in a Valentine Day card exchange. Is it safe with COVID?

Answer provided by John Bower, MD, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital:

There is growing evidence that the transmission risk of COVID from an inanimate item, such as a valentine card, is much lower than previously thought. Yet, our standard remains to clean surfaces and avoid sharing items. The best advice for this Valentine’s Day would be to follow the CDC’s general recommendation for schools (in short, no shared cards this year):
Shared objects

Limit the use of shared objects (e.g., gym or physical education equipment, art supplies, toys, games, computers) when possible, or clean and disinfect between use.

Discourage sharing of items that are difficult to clean or disinfect such as electronic devices, pens and pencils, classroom stapler, whiteboard markers and erasers, books, games, art supplies (e.g., markers, crayons, scissors), and other learning aids. Soft and porous materials, such as area rugs and seating, may be removed to reduce the challenges with cleaning and disinfecting them.
Keep each student’s belongings separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, cubbies, lockers or areas.

Ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of high touch materials to the extent possible (e.g., assigning each student their own art supplies, equipment) or limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of students at a time and clean and disinfect between use.