Covid-19: Education sector advised on hygiene and clean school environments (Part 2)

As part of the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) it is advised that decision-makers choosing to open schools should follow the guidelines below.

Also read: Covid-19: World Health Organisation on reopening of schools (Part 1)

Also read: Covid-19: Guidelines for monitoring the situation once schools open (Part 3)

Hygiene and daily practices at school:

• Educate everyone in the school about Covid-19 prevention, this includes appropriate and frequent hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, mask use if mandated, symptoms of Covid-19 and what to do if you feel sick. Non-contact greetings should also be advised. Offer weekly updates on these as the pandemic evolves.
• Create a schedule for frequent hand hygiene, especially for young children, and provide sufficient alcohol-based rub or soap and clean water at school entrances and throughout the school.
• Schedule regular cleaning of the school environment daily, including toilets, with water and soap/detergent and disinfectant. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, desks, toys, supplies, light switches, doorframes, play equipment, teaching aids used by children, and covers of books.
• Assess what can be done to limit risk of exposure, or direct physical contact, in physical education classes, sports or other physical activities and play in playgrounds, wet areas and changing rooms.
• Increase frequency of cleaning in gym and sports facilities and changing rooms, provide hand hygiene stations at entrances and exits, establish one-way circulation of athletes through the facilities and limit the number of people allowed in the locker room at one time.
• Put in place respiratory and hand hygiene and physical distancing measures in transportation, such as school buses, and tips for students on safe commuting to and from school, including those using public transport. Only one child per seat and at least one metre apart in school buses, if possible. This may lead to a need to increase the number of school buses per school. If possible, the windows of the bus should be kept open.
• Develop a school policy on wearing a mask or a face covering in line with national or local guidance. If a child or member of school staff is sick, she/he should not come to school.
• Provide sufficient medical masks for those who need them, such as school nurses and children with symptoms. Screening and management of sick students, teachers and other school staff.
• Enforce the policy of “staying at home if unwell” for students, teachers or school staff with symptoms. If possible, connect with local organisations to provide home care support and ensure communication between home and school.
• Create a checklist for parents/students /staff to decide whether students /staff can go to school, and with due consideration for the local epidemiology of Covid-19.

Also read: Schools pushed to contingency plans

The checklist could include:

• Underlying medical conditions and vulnerabilities, to protect the student/staff.
• Recent illness or symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, to prevent spread to others.
• Special circumstances in the home environment, to tailor support as needed.
• Special considerations regarding school transport as needed.
• Waive the requirement for a doctor’s note to excuse absences when there is community transmission of Covid-19.
• Consider daily screening for body temperature, and history of fever or feeling feverish in the previous 24 hours, on entry into the building for all staff, students and visitors to identify people who are sick.
• Ensure students who have been in contact with a Covid-19 case stay home for 14 days. The school officials should notify public health authorities in case of a positive Covid-19 case.
• Establish procedures for students or staff who have symptoms of Covid-19 or are feeling unwell in any way to be sent home or isolated from others.

Also read: Covid-19 Lockdown: 7 tips for parents to help them assist their children with schoolwork

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.