Covid-19 prevention effort in schools

To prepare for students returning to school after a temporary closure due to Covid-19, Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has maintained Covid-19 prevention and control inspection visits to schools, from nursery to secondary, in Khanh Hoa.

 

Building Covid-19 response preparedness plans

 

According to Le Dinh Thuan, Vice-Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training, Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has built plans to respond to the Covid-19 epidemic in educational settings in Khanh Hoa Province in an attempt to increase information connection between management units and schools; school staff, teachers and students; close cooperation with medical units to effectively prevent the spread of the disease.

 

The plans mention specific tasks in epidemic communication, disease prevention and control guidelines under recommendations by the health sector, focusing on protecting and monitoring the health of officials, teachers, staff and students.

 

 

 

 

Schools are required to coordinate with the local health sector to clean classrooms, sanitation facilities, kitchens and teaching equipment; direct and guide school cadres, teachers, and students to fully implement the Ministry of Health's recommendations on Covid-19 prevention. Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has requested schools to temporarily postpone extracurricular activities, field trips, picnics and sightseeing tours.

 

In case of necessity, Divisions of Education & Training in coordination with the health sector may convert school buildings into makeshift hospitals and quarantined areas. Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has also built schemes against Covid-19 at specific severity levels to assure on-site response preparedness in districts and towns.

 

Assuring hygiene and epidemic prevention

 

According to Le Dinh Thuan, schools in Khanh Hoa are scheduled to reopen on March 2 if there is no unusual occurrence of the epidemic. On February 25, Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training will cooperate with the medical sector and communities to organize 6 inspection teams (third drive) to nursery and high schools. Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training is waiting for the Ministry of Education & Training’s specific guidance on making up for days missed as a result of the school closure to curb the spread of the disease.

 

When reopening, there are strict rules about hygiene and epidemic prevention to make sure schools are safe. Accordingly, schools are required not to provide dining service at primary schools. Sufficient clean water with soaps and sanitizers must be available at hand washing and sanitation facilities. Trash bins must have lids and be emptied daily. Temporarily, extracurricular activities, field trips, picnics, sightseeing tours, school flag meetings and canteen service will be postponed. Hygiene guidance for students under recommendation of the Ministry of Health will continue at school and at home to enhance and monitor health.

 

Hand soaps, floor detergents and leaflets of hand hygiene guidelines will be delivered to some primary schools in Khanh Hoa under a Covid-19 prevention and control program developed by the Ministry of Education & Training in cooperation with Unilever Vietnam International Company.

 

H.Ngan

Translated by N.T