Free Meals for Quarantined Students: What Parents, Schools, and Municipalities Need to Know

According to the government’s decision, older students will study remotely or co-ed during the quarantine, and younger students in the fourth grade or special schools and special classes will go to kindergarten or school as usual, unless the municipality announces a containment regime in an institution, according to the press release.

Free meals are provided in Lithuania to all pre-school and first-grade children, as well as seniors from low-income families. About 90 thousand meals are provided free of charge throughout Lithuania. students, but only food rations will be needed for those children who will learn at home.

Basic principles of organizing free meals during quarantine:

• When a school, such as preschool, first grade, or special school children, has regular contact education, the students also eat normally, only following the recommendations of the operations manager: that is, the flow of students is distributed, washing the hands under running water, feeding and hand washing. organized for separate classes without mixing children of different classes with each other, avoiding grouping of students.

• When children are distance-educated, such as students in grades 5-12, families of children who receive free meals can receive food rations or meals prepared based on the individual family situation. Cooked foods are relevant for children who grow up in conditions of social risk and do not receive hot food at home.

The municipal administrations, which cooperate with the directors of educational institutions, are responsible for organizing free meals.

The main recommended steps:

1. The school director or a person designated by him will draw up a list of students who receive free meals and distance education, with information on the place of residence and contact numbers.

2. The student’s parents or guardians will be informed of the possibility of receiving free meals for the child in another way, such as food rations or by providing prepared meals to children growing up in difficult conditions.

3. Determine whether the parents / guardians wish to receive free meals for the child through quarantine and, if so, whether it is more acceptable for the family to receive a meal ration or prepared meal.

4. The periodicity of food issuance will be determined – once a week or similar.

5. Parents / guardians will be informed by electronic, telephone or other means of all decisions related to the free meal issue. The information should also be posted on the school website.

6. The food ration must meet the recommended average daily amounts of nutrients and energy set by the Minister of Health.

7. If the family does not have an objective opportunity to collect a ration of food or food prepared at school (because they live far away and have no transportation, are ill, etc.), then they agree on how the food will be delivered to the home. The food is left at the door upon delivery to the house.

8. When food rations are distributed, they should be packed immediately and ready to go. It is recommended that the child’s parents, guardians or adult children come to collect a portion of food.

9. If the child received food both in a social service institution and in a school, a general food ration will be prepared for the family.

10. People sharing food rations should regularly wear personal protective equipment: respirators, disposable gloves, disinfectant. It is recommended to wash your hands every two hours with soap and running water.

11. Surfaces most frequently touched should be cleaned with a wet method and disinfectants.