High school student infected with coronavirus in Vilnius: tests of contacted teachers – negative, facilities disinfected

At the beginning of the school year, it was announced that coronavirus outbreaks had or could form in educational institutions.

For example, when a student from Raseiniai Source Progymnasium became infected with COVID-19, her classmates and teacher had to isolate – according to data from Friday – a total of 26 representatives of this school community.

Many parents of students are dismayed by the spread of the coronavirus in schools. This is also recognized by the representatives of the responsible authorities.

15 minutes wrote the father of a Vilnius student Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium: “You may be interested in Vilnius Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium, the daughter does not go, says a 12-year-old with a positive”.

The lessons have yet to take place

F. Gulbinienė, director of the Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium in Vilnius, said the illness was confirmed to the student in August, when the lesson had not yet taken place. However, the high school student visited the school before the start of the school year.

“He had debts from last year and he paid them off,” said the director.

The teachers with whom the student interacted were isolated. According to F. Gulbinienė, the results of the tests carried out for coronavirus were negative.

The premises were disinfected.

Children are social

Speaking of the situation regarding the coronavirus, F. Gulbininienė considered that now we are all sitting on a kind of volcano and we do not know when the case of contagion may occur.

“Our children are social, our children participate in various events. We are protecting and creating conditions, but as it will be, probably none of us can predict,” said the gym director.

According to F. Gulbininienė, the recommendations for educational institutions stipulate that in the event of a case of coronavirus, the NVSC must be informed, which will indicate how to proceed.

Distance and contact learning

Daiva Razmuvienė, an epidemiologist with the National Center for Public Health (NVSC), said Friday that the students’ parents are scared.

According to her, it has been heard in educational institutions that some parents want their children to learn at a distance.

F. Gulbinienė assured that Vilnius Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium has no signs that parents do not want their children to go to school or do not allow them.

“All classes have their activities. This week is definitely very organizational as textbooks, acquaintances, class hours, etc. are shared. But lessons are also being learned, ”he said.

F. Gulbinienė said that a blended learning method will now be applied in Vilnius Jonas Basanavičius Gymnasium.

“When you study alone, it’s 1-2 classes, then 3-4 classes learn remotely. And vice versa, “said the gym director.

When you study alone, it’s grades 1-2, then classes 3-4 are distance learning. And vice versa.

According to F. Gulbinienė, distance education can cause a lot of inconvenience to parents of primary school pupils, because they need to work, there are no opportunities to work with children during work.

“If we talk about, for example, the Jonas Basanavičius gym, these are children who are usually between 14 and 15 years old. We have been very successful in doing this (distance education – red.past.) In the first phase since March . We were very lucky, we did many surveys. For students who did not have computers, we gave them outside of school. As we give at the beginning, whenever that situation is. I do not think we have any problem, “he said.

Only in an emergency

Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga says that only in an emergency can all educational institutions in the country be considered to return to distance education.

According to him, efforts will be made to prevent this so that parents can go to work, participate in normal activities, so that the state economy does not get in the way.

“And really only in an emergency could it be considered that the whole country could go back to distance education. But, as I said, all the measures are designed to respond in a very isolated way to the spread of the disease in a certain educational institution ”, commented A.Veryga.

All measures have been put in place to respond in a very isolated way to the spread of the disease in a particular educational setting.

At the same time, he stressed that there may be exceptional cases where, for example, children with chronic illnesses are recommended and provided distance education.