Children advised to maintain the protocols

While no definite decision has been made as to whether the upcoming third term of the current academic year will remain online, or students and teachers will be returning to their school compounds, students have been reminded to keep all the COVID-19 protocols foremost in their minds once they head back out.

In a recent Zoom meeting, Director of Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and paediatrician Dr Clyde Cave in response to questions from teachers and students said: “Your best bet is to act as though everyone around you is a potential carrier of the virus, so continue to wear masks when in groups of people, maintain a distance of six feet from everyone in the classroom and exercise extra caution at break and lunch time when you may be running around or eating, and make sure you wash and/or sanitize your hands frequently.”

When asked whether students with respiratory conditions such as asthma would be allowed back into school, Dr Cave said, “Once your asthma is well controlled and your doctor says it is safe for you to go to school, you have no excuse not to go. However, it may be advisable to adhere to the protocols more diligently owing to your vulnerability.” He also noted that it was possible to catch COVID-19 a second time and that getting the vaccine did not mean the recipient could not contract the virus at some point in the future. 

In terms of public transport, another matter addressed last year when the Ministry of Education and the COVID 19 Monitoring Unit released a document entitled Guidelines for the Safe Return to the Classroom, students were reminded to avoid overcrowded buses. “If a bus comes along and it looks too full, wait on another one because transmission of the virus can easily take place in a crowd. Also remember to maintain your distance from other people around you if there is a large crowd at the bus stop or in the bus terminal. 

Once you get on board, keep your mask on and if you are near a window it may be advisable to look out and get some fresh air from time to time. Also, try not to touch too many surfaces in the vehicle and sterilise your hands on exiting. If you can take your clothes off as soon as you get home and take a shower, it will also control the spread of the virus.”