Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aynur Eren Topkaya said that due to the ongoing face-to-face education process and the continued increase in the number of cases “caution should not be abandoned,” and listed the points that school administrations, teachers, parents, and students should pay attention to as follows:

Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Topkaya  explained:

• First of all, important duties fall upon the school administration. Every day, it should be questioned whether all the personnel, students, and teachers who have come to school are healthy that day.
• It should be investigated whether there are people diagnosed with COVID-19 disease in the families of students, teachers, and all school personnel.
• All physical arrangements must be made at the school to comply with the rules of masks, distance, and hygiene. Masks and disinfectants should be kept in places where everyone can easily reach them.
• It is important to provide ventilation, especially during the winter months, as schools will turn into large indoor areas.
• Performing PCR or antigen tests on unvaccinated school personnel at least twice a week will be useful for the early detection and isolation of positive cases.

Vaccination of Children in the Risky Group

• The Ministry of Health has already assigned a vaccine to children over 12 years of age and with chronic diseases. It is stated that the new variants can have a severe course on children, too. For this reason, vaccination is of vital importance, especially in children in the risky group.

It Must be Ensured That They Wear a Mask

• Although it is difficult to maintain social distance in the school environment for different age groups, the social distance must be paid attention to especially in common areas such as dining halls, and school gardens, children must be warned not to take off their masks. If possible, the number of children on school buses should also be reduced, and it must be ensured that children wear their masks on the school buses.
• In schools, it must be ensured that children wear masks both in indoor and outdoor areas. One mask is enough during the day as long as it does not get wet. However, children must be told that the mask must be changed if it gets wet or falls to the ground.
• It must be ensured that children have spare masks near them. Small bags can be given to children so that they can put their masks in them. This will provide ease of storage in cases where they cannot wear a mask, such as lunch break.
• It is crucial to give children the habit of hand washing. They must be told that before and after meals, after removing the mask and before putting it on, when they come home, they must wash their hands properly with soap and water.

If They are Sick do Not Send Them to School

• The most important responsibility that falls on families is not to send children with symptoms of the flu, influence, etc., to school, contact a doctor as soon as possible and inform the school administration about the situation. Thus, it will be possible to keep track of other students or school personnel who have contact with a positive student.

Press Coverage: sozcu