As September approaches, the municipality announces innovations that await students and their teachers returning to school: how we will protect each other, what is recommended for teachers, students, and their parents and what is important to take into account in order not to have to return to distance education.
As the virus spread more intensively, the municipality updated the action plan on how to prevent its spread in educational institutions, and prepared recommendations and obligations - how education will take place, how to monitor the health status of the community, how to organize activities, feeding by separating streams, etc.
What will a safe September 1 celebration look like?
Usually, the school year started with a mass celebration on September 1, but taking into account the existing risks, it is strongly recommended to minimize gatherings and organize celebrations in separate streams on different days (August 31 - September 1-2). The best place for the celebration is outside, ensuring that a safe distance is maintained. The most logical thing would be to pay more attention to those who are just starting a new stage: first, fifth, ninth graders. Other classes could organize their first holiday lessons in their classrooms or outside, in areas separate from other streams. The first meeting should be devoted to discussion and mutual agreement on how school life will be in the near future.
Should masks be worn in schools?
For students
The requirement for students to wear masks during classes - in today's epidemiological situation - is not established. However, if it changes, new requirements would be introduced at any time, based on the latest decisions of the state-level emergency state operations manager. There are no requirements for students to keep a safe distance during the lesson either, but it is recommended to keep a safe distance in all common indoor areas of the school.
For parents
Somewhat different obligations regarding masks will apply to visiting parents. Parents who accompany students to school, or parents and guardians who come to a class meeting, while in common closed spaces (e.g. corridors, canteens, teachers' room, etc.) will have to wear protective equipment covering the nose and mouth, when a distance of 2 meters from others is not maintained people. The exception applies only to disabled people who cannot wear masks due to their health condition. When entering the school premises, it is necessary to observe basic hygiene requirements: disinfect hands, cough or sneeze only into the inner bend of the elbow or a disposable tissue, keep a safe distance. It is recommended that parents enter the premises only in exceptional cases. Schools will have to prepare rules for parents visiting the school.
For teachers
Teachers will also have to wear masks in classes in cases where they do not maintain a distance of 2 meters from students.
How and where will the lessons and activities take place?
The biggest change is for the older students, who will try to organize activities as much as possible in the same room as for the elementary students, with different teachers coming to the classrooms to the students instead of the students walking to them. This will limit contacts as much as possible during and after classes. Only those lessons that cannot be held in classrooms will be held in specialized classrooms, as laboratory equipment is necessary.
It is highly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to organize lessons and group activities outdoors, in outdoor classrooms.
Schools will focus on managing the movement of student flows, so lesson and recess times may be adjusted so that different streams do not mix when using common facilities. Some schools may use shifts where a safe process cannot be ensured otherwise.
Multiple inputs, multiple different outputs will be used where possible.
Is it a safe environment for children to learn in?
Where classes are held indoors, they will be ventilated before they arrive and during each break. Frequently touched surfaces: door handles, table tops, chair supports, stair railings, electrical switches, etc. will be cleaned at least 2 times a day. It will be ensured that there are suitable conditions for the hand hygiene of students and employees, informational posters will publish recommendations on proper hand hygiene, etc.
Students will be encouraged to avoid sharing the same teaching aids. Peers will be taught in adjacent rooms to minimize contact between children of different ages.
How will meals be organized?
The number of children eating at the same time in the canteens will have to be as small as possible, so some schools will make maximum use of the classrooms, while others will create schedules for individual groups to eat in the canteens: in the classrooms, food can be served in disposable dishes, in the classrooms children can also eat their own food from home, and in the canteen it will be necessary to separate spaces for different classes, group streams to feed students. Safe conditions for using cutlery will have to be created in canteens. The principle of the buffet table, when the students put the food themselves, will not be able to be organized.
How will health be monitored?
The health status of students, employees, and accompanying students will be monitored daily. In schools, conditions will be created for all of them, as well as third parties who provide services in the educational institution, to measure body temperature with a non-contact thermometer upon arrival at the educational institution.
People with fever (37,3 °C and above), runny nose, cough, and other signs of infectious diseases will not be allowed to enter.
If someone catches a cold while studying or working at school, they will have to be isolated immediately, the student's parents (guardians, carers) will be informed about this and the coronavirus hotline will be consulted. 1808 for further action. An acutely ill employee will have to immediately leave the school premises and consult the coronavirus Hotline 1808 or contact his family doctor.
Is it necessary to have a child's health certificate?
It is important for parents to know that an exception is made during this period - it is not necessary to go to health institutions for children's health certificates before the new school year, because the validity of last year's certificates has been extended until the New Year. Health certificates will only be needed for those changing schools or kindergartens.
When is it necessary to stay at home?
Those subject to mandatory isolation are not allowed to go to schools or kindergartens.
Children who suffer from chronic diseases specified in the list of Serious chronic diseases for which a certificate of incapacity for work is issued during an emergency or quarantine period should not go to school and stay at home (diabetes, chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels, kidneys, congenital immunodeficiency, etc.). Also, children and workers who have a fever (37,3 °C and above), or who have signs of acute upper respiratory tract diseases, other infectious diseases (such as runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing, etc.).
What will be done if the virus starts to spread in the institution?
It is planned that if the number of sick students or school employees starts to grow, there will be a response and action locally in the outbreaks, without closing all educational institutions in the city. The effects are combated by isolating people in separate classes or institutions.
Employees, students or their parents (guardians) of the educational institution must immediately inform the educational institution about the COVID-19 disease diagnosed by the employee, student or their parents. Upon receiving this information, the educational institution will immediately inform the National Public Health Center about it. There will be cooperation in identifying persons who have had contact, who will have to isolate themselves for 14 days, and decisions will also be made regarding remote learning of classes and groups. Depending on the state of health, students who are subject to isolation will be able to continue to participate in the educational process remotely.
The municipal decisions related to COVID-19 are organized taking into account the resolutions adopted by VESOC: 2020 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania - Head of State Emergency Operations at the State Level. August 17 decision no. V-1839 "On the necessary conditions for the organization of primary education", as well as decision no. V-1838 "On the necessary conditions for the organization of basic and secondary education" and taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
