(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A family medicine doctor is advising parents of college students to have a COVID talk with them before taking them to campus.
Dr. Nimmi Rajagopal says what happened recently at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is a big example of why parents need to discuss tactics with their children to avoid the coronavirus.
More than 130 students at UNC contracted COVID-19 after a week of classes. On Tuesday, the University of Notre Dame announced classes will be moving online temporarily because of a spike in infections.
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Dr. Rajagopal said parents must impress on their young adults the necessity of hand-washing, carrying hand sanitizer, wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from others.
"The social distancing … is probably the hardest thing for college kids,” the physician said. “You really have to be able to maintain that. So, instead of hanging out in a common lounge inside, go outside right now. It’s beautiful out."
Dr. Rajagopal concedes that standing up to peer pressure is difficult: ”Even if you think, ‘Yes, I should be wearing a mask,’ it’s really hard to say to somebody, ‘Can you please put your mask on? Can you please move a little bit farther away?’”
Rajagopal says parents and their college students should also talk about plans should the young adults contract COVID-19.