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On Wednesday, authorities unveiled the new kindergarten guide that will open during the week. The most important measure is that sick children and employees stay home.
“It is safe to open kindergartens and it is important for our children,” Education Minister Guri Melby said at the government press conference on Wednesday.
She points out that the opening of kindergartens is based on professional advice and figures on coronary infection in children, among others, in Sweden.
– They show that there have been no outbreaks in schools and kindergartens, says Melby.
She says the supervisor draws on a number of sources with good experience with children and infections.
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS: Education Minister Guri Melby introduces the new kindergarten guidance counselor at a press conference on April 15. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB Scanpix
These can meet in kindergarten
The supervisor, who is on the website of the Directorate of Education, clearly states that sick children should not be in kindergarten.
In addition, good hand hygiene and less human contact stand out.
Therefore, children can go to kindergarten when they do not have symptoms of illness.
Children and employees with mild respiratory symptoms and discomfort should not attend kindergarten. They should stay home until they have been symptom free for 1 day.
IMPORTANT ZONE: Good and frequent spirit washing becomes more important than ever in Norwegian kindergartens, as here in Barnebo kindergarten in Narvik. Photo: Jørgen Braastad, VG
– Health problems come first, also when we are about to reopen kindergartens next Monday, says Melby.
– Parents, children and employees must ensure that the reopening is carried out in a responsible manner. The national supervisor is clear about how kindergartens can prevent infection. It is important for kindergartens to put measurements in place before opening, he continues.
These shouldn’t be in kindergarten
Children or employees who have confirmed covid-19 must be isolated. If the child or employee is in close or home contact with a person who has confirmed that covid-19 should be quarantined.
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The child or staff member can still attend daycare if someone in their home is sick as long as the person has not confirmed covid-19.
Guardians who have respiratory symptoms, are in quarantine, or in isolation should not follow or bring children to kindergarten.
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Must have increased distance
The kindergarten checklist states, among other things, that “older collections of children should be avoided” and three children per adult are proposed for young children (under 3 years old) and six children per adult for older kindergarten children.
Within groups, children can interact normally, but groups should not interfere with each other. The composition of the group can be changed as needed, but not more frequently than weekly. The change must take place after a weekend so that there are at least two days without contact between children and employees.
Here is the counselor’s advice for less contact in kindergarten.
“In this way, there is as little contact as possible in the case of a disease diagnosed in a child or an employee. It is an advantage that children do not get along with many other children in their spare time, ”says the supervisor, who was posted on the website of the Board of Education on Wednesday.
The distance between people must also be increased. Employees must maintain at least a meter of distance from colleagues in other groups, called “cohorts.”
There will also be fewer meetings and gatherings.
For kindergarten children where it is difficult to regulate distance from others, the most important measure will be to limit the number of close contacts to each child and staff.
The supervisor also says that parents should not be allowed to enter kindergarten “if not necessary.”
Enhanced cleaning
Since frequent and thorough cleaning is important to prevent infection, exposed areas should have improved cleaning, according to the supervisor. Local cleaning routines and plans should be reviewed and adapted. It is not necessary to use disinfection routinely in the nursery.
Some of the reinforced cleaning rules state that toys or textiles that cannot be washed at 60 degrees must be removed. The supervisor also recommends that the number of toys be reduced so that cleaning is feasible. Toys, sports equipment, tablets, computers, and keyboards should be washed at least daily.
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Wash hands after comforting
Both kindergarten staff and children should receive good hand washing training. Hand washing for children, as a rule, should be done with an adult present. The tutor recommends doing sink routines that children find fun to implement.
Employees do not need to use mouthwash, but they should wear clothing that can be washed at 60 ° C. When changing diapers, wear disposable gloves.
It also states that employees must wash their hands after hugging and comforting them, but that the need for closeness and childcare must be addressed.
You will hear comments
There may be changes based on feedback from staff and parents. The Minister of Education says that she understands parents with problems:
– We take parents and staff seriously concerned if they feel the situation is unsafe, he says, and encourage them to listen to health care advice.
Melby emphasizes that when it comes to opening kindergartens and schools, they have followed a more gradual and cautious line than experts recommend: giving kindergartens time to prepare so they are ready to open.
Mette Nord leads nearly 400,000 members at Fagforbundet, a major player in the nursery sector.
– The supervisor is a starting point, but will not respond to all challenges. We hope the authorities respond quickly to questions that will arise, Nord says.
– KS is based on the evaluations carried out by the Institute of Public Health, and the municipalities will do everything possible to follow up on the advice given. So it is important that national authorities clearly communicate the basis for the decision of a gradual opening, so that parents, employees and children find it safe to attend the nursery, says KS board president Bjørn Arild Gram .
Educational Association: – Wait reduced residence time
Education Association leader Steffen Handal thinks it is good that the supervisor is ready and that this is a good starting point.
– But it will not respond to all challenges in kindergartens, says Handal.
According to him, especially the part that deals with how children’s groups can be organized, many people have been excited.
“We hope that kindergarten owners will use a shorter lifespan for children and provide temporary sick leave workers to achieve their intentions,” says Handal.
He is confident that many questions will arise as the supervisor is employed.
– Our mission now is to reopen, create security and prevent infections. Now we will begin that work. Handal emphasizes that the Education Association will do everything possible to support our members in their efforts to give back to all children every day.
The case is being updated.
