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To ensure the safety of students, teachers and their families at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical officer for COVID-19, said many countries already had put in place preventive measures to keep schools open and safe.
And Dr Maria added in episode 55 of “Science in Five”, presented by Vismita Gupta Smith, and broadcast by the World Health Organization on its social media accounts, that the UN gives priority to the protection of societies and tries to reduce the transmission of infection in them, as much as possible, and because the individuals who They work in these schools and live in the communities, they fall under the classification of groups priority.
Detailed plans
Dr Maria pointed out that the global organization also aims to ensure that there are good plans and systems that are strictly implemented within the school system so that the health of students and staff can be monitored, explaining that the plans should provide the ability to detect any cases of infection and ensure that sick children stay at home, with the need to have good communication with the students themselves, faculty members as well as parents, so that they can tell them what to do if the student is sick or the teacher is sick and to ensure the efficiency and tightness of the system put in place within schools to reduce the risk of spread of the Covid-19 virus.
expressive
precautionary measures
Dr Maria explained that the plans also include disinfection and sterilization procedures, improved ventilation, observing physical distancing controls and wearing protective masks, in addition to the fact that if there is vaccines available in the regions, it is necessary to ensure that the priority groups living in these communities are vaccinated.
Dr Maria stressed that it is really important for students to have continuity in education while ensuring their safety, explaining that it is about making a plan i.e. if students are not feeling well, they are advised to stay at home. and be looked after by a parent or guardian It’s home.
And if there are any cases at school, they need to be discovered so that they can receive proper care. They can get tested and receive the appropriate care they need based on their symptoms. It is then recommended to search the contacts. So if there is a positive case, as in the community at large, what is done is to ensure that the risk of transmitting the virus from the infected person to others is avoided.
It is therefore important that the contacts of these children are identified and that these children are placed in quarantine for a certain number of days so that they do not have the possibility of spreading, if they have been infected. But these actions require detailed planning on the part of the school. Good communication with the students themselves is required. In other words, the recommendations begin with taking the necessary precautions to prevent infection and spreading it to others, and then dealing with what to do if students are not feeling well or an infection occurs.
To get vaccinated
Dr Maria stressed the importance of receiving the vaccine when the opportunity arises, noting that although there is a shortage of vaccines around the world and there is no proper justice in the distribution of vaccines, it is essential that those most at risk get vaccinated first, which means Prioritizing the elderly, people with chronic diseases and workers in health service sectors. But at the same time, teachers are included in priority groups for immunization.
Regarding how the families of students and teachers protect themselves, Dr Maria said it is very important that families also do everything possible to ensure their safety and that of their loved ones, explaining that the World Health Organization recommends starting with prevention first. , observing precautionary measures and anything that can be done to reduce exposure to this virus, taking care to maintain a physical distance and to wash your hands constantly and well, in addition to wearing protective masks. the right way to cover your nose and mouth, avoiding being in crowded places and staying at home as much as possible, emphasizing that all these factors are important at home and in society, as well as at school .
What are the risks with young children
Dr Maria said families should always remember that anyone can be infected with SARS-CoV-2, including children, and children can pass the virus on to others, so it really is important for families to discuss these risks as they depend on the child’s age and what they can do to keep them safe.
She added that it would be difficult for young children to respect the wearing of protective masks, for example, or to maintain a physical distance between themselves and their colleagues at all times, so it is important to have this open dialogue and talk about the risks, depending on the age of the children. But there are many things everyone can do to protect themselves from the youngest to the oldest, and there is a role and responsibility for all members of society to reduce the possibility of the spread of COVID-19.
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