Covid in schools: Report even mild 'flu-like' symptoms, students urged

 

The Health Ministry has urged students to report Covid-19 symptoms to their teachers, warders, or student representatives immediately, even if they are just mild flu-like symptoms.

Its director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said among the reasons for the recent surge in Covid-19 clusters in schools and education facilities is the late detection of individuals with Covid-19 symptoms who still attend classes.

The call for even the mildest symptoms to be reported is among 10 proposals for reducing the spread of Covid-19 in schools, following a meeting between the Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, and various other agencies on Jan 22.

“Students must immediately report to teachers, wardens, or student representatives, even for mild flu-light symptoms”, read one of the proposals, which is the only one highlighted in bold in Noor Hisham’s statement today.

Noor Hisham said there are 107 Covid-19 clusters identified at educational institutions from Jan 1 to Jan 25 this year, totalling 4,633 cases.

“A clear increase has been recorded since the opening of the 2022 school year compared to the 2021 session,” he said.

Weekly tally of Covid-19 clusters involving educational institutions. Data for 4/2022 epidemiological week incomplete and only includes cases up to Jan 25.

Of the 107 clusters, 56 (52.3 percent) involve institutions under the Education Ministry, 22 (20.6 percent) involve institutions of higher learning, three (2.8 percent) involve private institutions registered under the Education Ministry, and 26 (24.3 percent) are other categories of education institutions.

Among the Covid-19 infections linked to such clusters, 4,092 (88.3 percent) are fully vaccinated and 112 (2.4 percent) have also received a booster shot.

Most of the cases have reported mild or no symptoms, but 12 cases are in Category 3 or 4 in severity.

“All 12 cases are now in stable condition and are being treated in healthcare facilities," Noor Hisham said.

Category 1 refers to asymptomatic cases, while Category 2 cases have symptoms but no pneumonia. Category 3 patients have developed pneumonia but can still breathe without assistance, while Category 4 patients require supplementary oxygen.

Apart from the late identification of symptomatic individuals, investigations by district health offices have also identified other causes for education clusters.

The causes include:

• Noncompliance with Covid-19 standard operating procedures during and outside of formal schooling hours, particularly in hostels.
• Students quarantined at school breach quarantine orders.
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of places of gathering were not carried out.
• Poor ventilation in classrooms and hostels.

Proposals at the meeting to tackle the issue, apart from encouraging the reporting mild symptoms, are:

• Advising schools to fully comply with the Management and Operation of Schools Guidelines 3.0 issued by the Education Ministry.
• Conduct immediate risk assessments so students infected with Covid-19 can be isolated and immediate action can be conducted on close contacts.
• Management needs to provide suitable spaces for isolating Covid-19 cases and their close contacts.
• Those who are eligible for Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots are encouraged to do so.
• Parents are reminded to ensure they send their children to school only if they are healthy.
• Ensure everyone at educational facilities follow SOPs set by the Health Ministry and National Security Council at all times.
• Cleaning and disinfection should be done frequently especially on frequently touched surfaces.
• Ensure that classes, hostels, and other closed spaces are well-ventilated.
• The results of Covid-19 tests conducted by students under parental supervision should be reported to schools. - Mkini