CLEAN-UP SCHOOLS

NOW that schools will open on Monday, all citizens must shore up efforts to fight the pandemic and ensure that they observe all the health guidelines to the hilt.

Schools must be cleaned thoroughly!

Certainly, Government’s decision to reopen schools has generated mixed feelings as some parents are uncomfortable letting their children interact in schools in large numbers at the height of the second wave of Covid-19.

Of course other parents are desirous to have their children back in school under stringent preventive measures because it is not known when this pandemic will subside.

Overall, 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, because the virus has mutated.

Yes, bars and night clubs have been operating within restricted durations, perhaps, because patrons are likely to breach the health rules as alcohol has a telling effect on the mind.

As for learning institutions, they will need to strictly observe the preventive measures that have become a sing-song, masking up, and observing physical distance, no hand-shakes and washing hands regularly.

Thus 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.

In boarding schools, adherence should be enforced too.

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

One of the most critical areas that ought to be strictly monitored is the public transport sector because 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 masks on public buses.

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

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 on Monday to avoid a spike.

We need to secure our future by protecting the children who will be returning to schools on Monday.