What happens in a school outbreak ... and will kids wear masks?

Why is there confusion about going back to school?

÷ Much of it is based around the fact each school is different and boards of management implement their own policies. Each board of management has taken the Government’s roadmap to reopen schools, studied it and interpreted it before implementing new polices they feel align with the Government’s plan.

Interpreting the plan should be easy, right?

÷ Not necessarily, as each school is different and they have to apply the plan in a way that suits their building, staff and pupils. This is pretty normal and is happening in other sectors, with offices, supermarkets and other buildings applying Covid-19 guidelines in ways that suit them and, hopefully, are considered safe. There are, however, also areas of the roadmap that teachers, parents and school leaders feel they would like to see greater clarity on.

Such as?

÷ Well, there is concern that some of the guidelines can be interpreted in different ways. Some schools have asked for clarity on the issue of social distancing in classrooms.

Children are being segregated into pods and third class up have to practise social distancing.

What’s a pod?

÷ The Department of Education says children are to be sectioned off into pods of between four and six pupils in classes and separated by at least a metre from their classmates. Some schools are unsure if the one metre requirement also applies within the pods so that children must be at least one metre away from another pupil at all times.

Do they have to wear face coverings?

÷ Teachers at primary and secondary level will be required to wear face coverings when a twometre distance cannot be maintained. The same applies to secondary school children. There is nothing enforcing face coverings for primary school children but some schools say they are likely to apply some discretion here if an anxious child is more comfortable with a face covering.

And what’s this with the school uniforms? Is my washing machine going to be on morning, noon and night? It sounds expensive too.

÷ It would be but, again, that’s down to individual school policies. Some parents are pretty annoyed because their child’s school has asked then to have multiple school uniforms which can be washed between each use. It’s not in any of the public health advice that has been issued. The department says school uniform policy is a matter for the boards of management at each school.

I’ll tell you what else must be expensive, all this work going on in schools. The builders must be doing well.

÷ According to Education Minister Norma Foley, more than €160m has been spent on minor works in schools, PPE bills and on getting schools ready to reopen. It’s likely more money is going to be spent here too.

In the majority of cases schools are putting in new one-way systems and hand sanitisers are going to be dotted everywhere.

What happens if Covid-19 gets in to a school?

÷ This is what principals dread and they aren’t pleased with these plans. The official advice is if a person develops symptoms, they should self-isolate and call their GP straight away. The doctor will assess whether they need a Covid-19 test. If the test is negative, fine. If the test is positive the HSE protocols kick in and public health teams will inform any staff, parents or students who came into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process and advise on the appropriate action.

That seems pretty normal?

÷ It is but the schools want access to rapid testing because if multiple teachers are out sick at the same time waiting for a test, and there is a difficulty getting substitute cover, the worst-case scenario is kids will have to stay at home. Nobody wants that.