Protocol to resume face-to-face classes in schools is almost ready, these are some measures

The biosecurity protocol that schools in the country must implement to resume face-to-face classes during the selective isolation phase for covid-19 would be ready and would be ready in the coming weeks, said the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz.

He spoke about some of the measures that are already contemplated, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.

He stated that “distancing children and adolescents remains an essential strategy. It is a fundamental factor to be able to contain the epidemic, but according to the scientific and technical literature this has impacts that must be considered when making decisions regarding need to return to classroom classes “, during the Presidency Prevention and Protection program.

With measures such as mandatory alternation, the creation of committees, the use of masks, and the installation of disinfection stations, they seek to facilitate the gradual return to institutions without generating outbreaks of covid-19.

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Mandatory alternation

The alternation has been proposed as a joint strategy between the Ministries of Health and Education.

The formation of a committee to lead the implementation of health in education was also determined, with the participation of national and international experts, to learn from the experiences developed in other countries.

They indicated from the portfolio that the impact of each territory and the conditions of educational institutions will be assessed, according to the risks that may occur in areas with low or high impact.

In addition, these measures will be socialized to the educational community, considering the different implications it would have for both students and teachers.

They stressed that only people with no symptoms associated with the coronavirus will be able to attend schools, that the use of a mask is mandatory, and that hours for hand washing must be established.

Sharing food will not be allowed and when they are being consumed the mask should be kept in a paper bag. It is important to avoid touching your face, nose or eyes during academic sessions.

They point out that the physical distance between students must be at least two meters, and the use of gloves is not recommended, except for the people in charge of cleaning the establishments.

Locative measures

Each institution must guarantee the supply of potable water for consumption, as well as for the cleaning and disinfection of tanks and the entire educational infrastructure.

It must also make supplies for hygiene, cleaning and disinfection available to the community, as well as ensure that constant ventilation, signaling and the distance between desks and dining rooms are possible so that there is less risk of contagion.

The entry and exit times must be staggered, both for pedestrians and vehicles. In addition, the temperature will be taken with a registration form for all the people who must enter the facilities.

Minister Ruiz said that a flow of communication and alerts will be established between educational institutions and the health and education secretariats of the territorial entities, in order to comply with the current protocol.

He emphasized that the institutions that serve children between the ages of 2 and 5 must also verify that they comply with the vaccination schedule.

In all cases, individual work, in pairs or small groups should be prioritized to minimize the possibility of physical contact.

Higher education institutions

They explained that those higher education centers that have residences or accommodation must have isolation spaces to ensure distance and follow the protocol when cases arise.

And the biosecurity protocol established to contain the spread of covid-19 also governs them.

The call of the Ministry of Health in this pandemic phase is to “consider the school as an absolutely dynamic entity in which there is not only an interaction from student to teacher, but also everything we call the educational community and third parties, which are associated to integrations and relationships because many times within these interactions there will be the chances of contagion, “said Ruiz.