Kindergartens, dual-level measures based on epidemiology
The new anti-Covid rules are ready for the return of children to Italian preschools. The ‘Strategic Indications’ for the 2022-2023 school year, published today, were defined by the Higher Institute of Health (Iss) with the Ministries of Health and Education and with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, and are based on a double ‘level’: “On the one hand, standard prevention measures for the beginning of the school year, which take into account the current framework, and on the other, further interventions to be modulated progressively based on the risk assessment and possible change in the epidemiological picture ”, is explained in the document.
The ‘rules’ follow those dedicated to first and second cycle schools, published in recent days.
In presence only if negative without fever or symptoms, if picture worsens 1 meter distance between adults
The possible basic preventive measures foresee that the stay in school is allowed only without symptoms / fever and forbidden in case of positive test; hand hygiene and ‘respiratory etiquette’, or methods of protection during coughing and sneezing; the use of Ffp2 masks for school staff at risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19; ordinary (periodic) and extraordinary sanitation in the presence of one or more confirmed cases; tools for managing suspected / confirmed cases and frequent contacts and air changes.
The document also provides for a ‘second level’ of measures to be adopted “gradually and only following precise decisions of a national health nature”, in the event of public health needs and changes in the epidemiological framework. The rules to be respected include: the spacing of at least 1 meter between adults; educational activities to be carried out by providing stable groups of children, compatibly with the available spaces and organizational potential, to minimize the opportunities for contact between children belonging to different groups; the use of bathrooms by children controlled in such a way as to avoid crowding and the intersection of different groups.
If the picture gets worse, no games at home and exchange, stop outside activities and canteen without mixing groups
And again, in case of worsening of the epidemiological picture, it is required to avoid the mixed use of toys between children belonging to different groups and it is not allowed to bring objects or games from home into the activity spaces. Where possible, parents are asked to organize the reception area for children outside; if in a closed environment, particular attention must be paid to thorough cleaning and frequent and adequate ventilation of the space. Only one accompanying adult can access the facility, the document continues.
The periodic sanitation of all environments is also envisaged by preparing a well-defined time schedule, to be documented through a regularly updated register. Surfaces that are touched most frequently must be disinfected at least once a day. The exits and external didactic activities will be suspended. And again: the use of surgical masks or Ffp2 is required, both when stationary and on the move, for anyone who enters or remains in the school premises (to be modulated in the different contexts and phases of school attendance), except for children; while all school staff (to be modulated in the different contexts and phases of school attendance) must wear the Ffp2 masks.
Finally, the document provides for the granting of gyms / clubs to third parties with the obligation of sanitization not charged to the school staff and at the conclusion of the activities on the day of use; the administration of meals in canteens by limiting as much as possible the promiscuity between children of different groups and the consumption of snacks in the same experience space dedicated to the group of children.
(Sal / Adnkronos Health)
Kindergartens, dual level measures based on covid epidemiology