(Photo Courtesy of In Anguilla)
On Tuesday, October 12th, School Nurse, Judith Owen, sought to allay the fears of parents, assuring them that proper measures are being taken in schools to keep their children protected against the Covid-19 virus. At the same time, she advised parents of certain steps they can take to assist the school in keeping their children safe.
Nurse Judith was at the time being interviewed by Ms. Nichola “Nikki” MacDonald in a special Department of Education programme dubbed, “Department of Education’s Covid Protocol Series Part 1”. The programme comes as a result of schools being currently functional, even though it is evident that positive Covid cases are gradually rising among students.
But in a communiqué on Friday 8th October, the Minister of Education, the Honourable Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, said: “With the gradual return to face-to-face learning, the Department and Ministry of Education have sought to prioritise safety without compromising learning.
“Despite this, several students have tested positive for Covid-19. The natural question at the door of the Ministry of Education is: ‘Why don’t you close the schools?’ This is a completely rational question. But over the past few weeks, the Ministry of Education has openly stated that is was balancing the state of readiness of the schools, the advice of the Ministry of Health and the level of vaccination on the island…”
It was against this backdrop that the interview with Nurse Judith was held. First, Ms. MacDonald asked: “Parents are concerned about the schools being reopened in light of so many positive cases, particularly among unvaccinated minors. What precautionary measures have been put in place to keep students safe while at school?”
Nurse Judith answered: “With the opening of schools, certain precautions were put in place including scheduled times for specific classrooms sessions. Whereas, previously, when school reopened in May, students came back in a phased approach. This time all students return on specific days throughout the week and at specific scheduled times.
“In addition, parents are not freely allowed on the school premises as before. Visitors are kept at a minimum, and they are not allowed to enter the classrooms. Even when education personnel visit the school, they are required to keep a safe distance away from the teachers and students. Anyone visiting the school must consult with the Principal at the Principal’s office and deal with any issue there.
“Of course, the wearing of masks is mandatory for all students as well as for all teachers. Every person entering the school, including students and teachers, must be wearing a mask and have a temperature check at the entrance. Outside of all this, the regular protocols are strictly followed including hand washing and hand sanitising. In the classroom, each teacher is equipped with a bottle of hand sanitiser, a can of Lysol disinfectant spray, and a roll of paper towel, and each child is responsible for sanitising his or her desk at regular intervals.”
“Another protocol,” the Nurse pointed out, “is that the Department of Education has employed more cleaners and custodians for the schools, in order to maintain the cleanliness of the classrooms and surrounding areas, and to facilitate order on the schools’ compounds. Before school starts the cleaners must ensure that the bathrooms are cleaned and they must check their cleanliness on a regular basis.”
The Nurse mentioned that the cleaners and custodians underwent special training for their positions. She said that each of them has a list of duties and responsibilities which includes daily, weekly and monthly tasks.
In addition, she pointed that the distance of children from each other is of a high priority in the schools and that, for the time being, recess or playtime on the playgrounds has been cut out. “The children are basically in their classrooms,” she said.
When Ms. MacDonald asked her what provisions are in place for children who may be susceptible to conditions such as asthma, the Nurse responded:
“The parents should inform the teacher if the child suffers from asthma or any breathing problem. The teacher must be aware of any respiratory allergies that the child might be exposed to, such as the cleaning chemicals, for example. Besides, parents of children who are asthmatic must ensure that the child has the required inhaler or pump at all times while in school. The pump should be always in the child’s bag so that wherever he or she goes, it can be in easy reach.”
Also, with regard to respiratory care, the Nurse said that in the classroom there are particular times designated for mask breaks. At such times, small groups of children can take turns in removing their masks in order to get a breath of fresh air, while maintaining safe distances apart. Or, if a particular child is sweating profusely, and seems to be uncomfortable under the mask, the teacher would send him or her at a safe distance out of the classroom for a short break.
Ms. MacDonald then asked: “How can parents at home assist the Department of Education in their efforts to maintain a safe teaching and learning environment at school?
Nurse Judith replied: “From home, one of the things that parents can do is to limit the amount of stuff that they send the children to school with. Obviously, the more stuff the child brings to school, the more he or she would want to interact with others. Limit the items that can be shared. As much as possible, send small amounts of snacks with the child — fruit and water are best. Instead of sending the child to school with sweet or salty snacks, I am here advocating that they are sent with fruit and water.
“Also, limit the number of pencils or pens. Limit the number of books to only those required for that particular day. Parents should also make it a habit to speak to the children about following the necessary protocols while they are in school. And if the child is feeling sick, have him or her remain at home. In such a case, the teacher should be informed and the hotline should be called so the child can be checked, or the parent should call the child’s pediatrician.” She also advised that “it would be worthwhile for the parent to have a thermometer and have the child’s temperature checked at home regularly.”
Finally, she stressed the need for children’s vaccinations: “Vaccinations are of great importance, and to be vaccinated is the first defense against the Covid-19 virus. As parents, we gave our children vaccines while they were babies and toddlers, before age five, to protect them against certain diseases. Now, it is the same thing. I know there are persons who have their issues with Covid-19 vaccines, but it is essential that your child be vaccinated. The Ministry of Health will be soon administering vaccinations for children 12 to 17 years of age. I encourage parents to register their children to be vaccinated, by going on the Government’s website beatcovid-19.ai.”
At the end of the interview, Ms. MacDonald noted that it was the first in a series of planned programmes designed to keep parents abreast of what the Department of Education is doing to maintain a safe teaching and learning environment at the schools in this Covid-19 era. She thanked Nurse Judith for such an enlightening and informative session, and hoped that she can return with an update soon.
