Given the fact that there is currently no community transmission of COVID-19 in Grenada,ย there is no justification for not allowing children to return to the classroom as normal. A returnย to normal distance for school children in this setting will not carry additional risk.
The focus at this time should be on educating everyone, and staff and students, adhering toย the recommended hygienic measures, which include mask wearing and sanitization. Sinceย research has shown that staff will be the most likely source of infection for other staffย members, attention should be given to ensuring their compliance with the health protocols.
The justification for the return to normal distancing at schools is outlined below:
The World Health Organization (WHO) provided a summary of research on COVID 19 in children and in schools as outlined below:ย
- Infection in children generally causes mild disease. Serious illness due to COVID-19 isย seen only infrequently. Young children seem to have lower susceptibility to infectionย compared to adults, with susceptibility generally increasing with age.
- Current evidence from contact tracing and cluster investigations also suggests thatย children are less likely than adults to be the main transmitters of infection.
- Studies in educational settings suggest that the introduction of the virus generallyย started with infected adults. Staff-to-staff transmission was more common than staff to-student transmission and student-to-student transmission was rare.
- A clear causal role for schools in community resurgence has currently not beenย demonstrated.
- Overall, most evidence from countries that have reopened schools or never closedย them suggests that schools have not been associated with significant increases inย community transmission.
- Risk of an outbreak in schools and other settings where young people congregate isย determined in large part by the background community transmission and settings linked risk amplifiers.
- epidemiological status with regards to COVID-19 remains safe,ย despite there being one or more cases that are imported. There is no evidence ofย community spread of the disease.
- The Ministry of Health continues to have good control over the introduction ofย COVID-19 in Grenada through the aggressive implementation of public health controlย measures. Therefore, in this situation, schools are allowed to open (or re-open) atย normal capacity.
- According to UNICEF, the adverse effects of school closures on childrenโs safety, well being and learning are well documented. Disruptions to instructional time in theย classroom can have a severe impact on a childโs ability to learn.
- Schools are not merely centers for learning. They are also safe havens for manyย children. Being out of school also increases the risk of teenage pregnancy, sexualย exploitation, violence and other threats.
