CARBONDALE (WSIL)--Many schools across the region are still debating which is better for students, remote or in-person learning?
Schools like Carbondale Middle School are making the call after debating which is the best practice for their students.
According to officials at Jackson County Health Department, remote learning is the safest option for kids if done properly.
While committing to remote learning can affect other parts of kids' lives, such as emotional and social health, experts agree that keeping kids home lowers their risk of catching COVID-19.
The problems occur when social distancing practices are not extended outside of just school.
Bart Hagston from the Jackson County Health Department said for remote learning to be effective, parents need to make sure that children limit interactions with the public as much as possible in order to limit exposure.
"It does no good to then have the kids going to birthday parties or multiple types of functions where they're exposed to many different people outside their household. That does limit the effectiveness of remote learning. So extend that same concept of keeping your kids home and safe to other parts of their life as well," said Hagston.
According to the CDC, children are less likely to have severe symptoms of COVID-19 than adults, or do not exhibit any symptoms.
The CDC also said that schools in areas with low community transmission pose low risk to school aged children.
The Jackson County Health Department said Monday morning that positive COVID-19 cases in Jackson County have increased by 1100%.
