SCREEN SCHOOLS INTENTLY

THE decision to re-open all institutions of learning has evoked relief just as it has generated anxiety among parents and learners.

There is relief because learners will not have to repeat the learning calendar and anxiety because parents and learners fear the disease may affect their families.

Over and above, relief must take precedence because no one, including health experts and scientists, knows for certain when COVID-19 will be eliminated.

Thus everyone must remain steadfast and carry out academic and other activities under the new normal with extreme caution, lest a spike occurs.

Learning institutions, bars and night clubs have remained closed for five months and this is certainly too long a period for business as well as academic entities.

As for learning institutions, they will need to fast- track their learning programmes in a manner that will not inconvenience or disadvantage learners while liquor traders should maximise the restricted time allotted to them.

Firstly, learning institutions have a mammoth task of ensuring that the learning environment is replete with all requirements such as hand-washing basins, soap, hand sanitisers and sufficient running water.

Social distancing in classrooms, dining halls and hostels must be guaranteed while all learners must wear and use face masks appropriately.

In pre-school and early grades of primary section, teachers must be alert all the time to ensure the safety of the children in as far as the use of face masks is concerned.

Face masks can reduce the rate of infections, but at the same time they can be a hazard to the young ones, if not used properly.

It will be ideal for parents and teachers to work together in ensuring adherence to health regulations, impressing upon the pupils to observe rules both at school and at home.

As at Saturday, Zambia had a cumulative 13,466 cases while active ones stood at 1,147 and the death toll stood at 312 after six were brought in dead. On the same day, 108 recovered.

Total recoveries are 12,007 from the time the disease broke out in March this year.

The statistics in the past three weeks have shown a drastic drop in the daily infection rate, perhaps, because of the onset of the warm weather.

As Health Minister stressed, there must never be any aorta of complacency among members of the public, but total adherence to health regulations.

One of the most critical areas that ought to be strictly policed is the public transport sector, as many of the pupils use buses to and from school.

Therefore, the same traffic police that invade the road network must enforce the health regulations, especially the rule on face mask wearing on public buses.

Traffic police officers must not only focus on defects on the vehicles, but also check on passengers’ adherence to health regulations.

There has been a tendency by passengers pulling down the masks below their chins and only adjusting them on the face upon seeing law enforcement officers.

Therefore bus crew members are cardinal in this regard; they must always check on passengers and ensure that they are in face masks until they disembark.

Zambians must hold hands in fighting COVID-19 particularly now that schools are re-opening to avoid a spike.

Let’s protect ourselves and our children!