Covid-19: World Health Organisation on reopening of schools (Part 1)
The decision to reopen schools will have implications for children, parents or caregivers, teachers and other staff, communities and society at large.
In response to Covid-19, countries around the world have implemented several public health and social measures (PHSM), including movement restrictions, closure of schools and businesses, and international travel restrictions.
Also read: Covid-19: Education sector advised on hygiene and clean school environments (Part 2)
Also read: Covid-19: Guidelines for monitoring the situation once schools open (Part 3)
As the local epidemiology of the disease changes, countries including South Africa, will adjust these measures according to the intensity of transmission.
In this regard, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued guidance on adjusting PHSM while managing the risk of resurgence of cases.
A series of guidelines developed by WHO aims to help countries through the adjustment of various public health measures in different contexts.
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One of these guidelines is considerations for decision-makers and educators on how or when to reopen or close schools in the context of Covid-19.
The decision to reopen schools will have implications for children, parents or caregivers, teachers and other staff, communities and society at large.
According to WHO, the decision to close, partially close or reopen schools should be guided by a risk-based approach to maximise the educational and health benefits for students, teachers, staff and the wider community, as well as help prevent a new outbreak of Covid-19 in the community.
Also read: Covid-19 Lockdown: 7 tips for parents to help them assist their children with schoolwork
WHO advised that decision-makers consider the following when deciding on whether to open or close schools:
- Current understanding about Covid-19 transmission and severity in children.
- Local situation and epidemiology of Covid-19 where the school(s) are located.
- School setting and ability to maintain Covid-19 prevention and control measures.
Additional factors to consider when deciding how or when to partially close or reopen schools includes assessing what harm might occur due to school closure, including the risk of non-return to school, limited access to meals and domestic violence aggravated by economic uncertainties.
- WHO: Covid-19 and children
Data from individual countries and a recent review of Covid-19 in children suggest that children are less often reported as cases than adults, and that the infection generally causes mild disease.
Also read: For learners, by learners: what to do while at home during quarantine
Serious illness due to Covid-19 is seen infrequently in children, although there have been rare cases of critical illness.
The role of children in transmission remains unclear and additional data is needed, including from age-stratified sero-epidemiologic surveys.
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To date, there have been few educational institutions involved in Covid-19 outbreaks, but from these studies, it appears that disease transmission was primarily related to social events linked to school or university life rather than transmission within classrooms.
These studies also suggest that the introduction of the virus was likely by an adult member of staff.
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