Schools will no longer have a safety distance or bubble groups

Despite the unstable epidemiological situation in Spain, the Government believes that schools are already prepared to face the new post-Covid normality. Last week, the Public Health Commission approved the update of the document ‘Prevention, hygiene and health promotion measures against covid-19 for educational centers’, which has been the guide to manage the virus in the classroom. This new version, announced by El Mundo, was not publicized by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education, but it radically changes the protocols in the classroom: it eliminates the safety distance of 1.2 meters between students, ends bubble groups (except in dining rooms) and allows parents to enter schools and participate in face-to-face tutorials. Of course, the text of the specialists, although it has a national scope, leaves the door open for communities that are at high risk levels to “assess specific measures.”

Safety distance

The 2021/2022 academic year, which is about to end, has seen a progressive relaxation in restrictions. It already began with the pre-pandemic ratios (25 students in Infant and Primary, 30 in ESO and 35 in Baccalaureate), in February the mandatory use of masks in the courtyards and in April in the interiors was ended, while on March 5 they had been eliminated student quarantines. But now the new guide goes much further and no longer sees the need to “keep interpersonal distance”. Thus, the students in a class can now “socialize and play with each other, interacting more normally.”

End to bubble groups

The experts emphasize that Spain is at risk levels 0, 1 and 2 (the lowest, compared to 3 and 4), and therefore they believe that the groups of stable coexistence, the so-called bubble groups, formed by a class and your tutor, you can relax your rules. The new document already allows these different groups to interact with each other both outdoors and indoors, except in the dining rooms.

access to families

The new document establishes that, from now on, families will be able to access both indoor and outdoor spaces of the educational center, for the entry and exit of students and also for other activities, although it is requested that crowds be avoided. . In addition, individual tutoring meetings will be allowed indoors.

Ventilation

Experts recall that it is “one of the most effective measures” and insist that it must be “reinforced.” “Cross ventilation will be ensured permanently, with doors and/or windows opening opposite or at least on different sides of the room (classrooms, dining rooms, gyms, etc.)”, recalls the document, which asks that the doors be opened windows for 15 minutes at the beginning and end of the day, during recess and between classes. Natural ventilation is the preferred option, but if it is not possible, air conditioning systems or filters or air purifiers (equipped with HEPA filters) are advocated. In the case of activities that increase the emission of aerosols, such as shouting, singing or physical exercise, it is recommended to do them outdoors.

With symptoms, better at home

The end of the quarantines should not be interpreted as an open bar to go to the center when sick. Specialists recommend that a person with acute symptoms compatible with covid-19 stay home. And when a student begins to develop symptoms in the educational center, “a surgical mask will be placed on him and the family or legal guardians will be contacted.”