Small groups, ventilation, distance: experts believe that open schools are possible

Monday, February 08, 2021

Small groups, ventilation, distance
Experts think open schools are possible

Scientists consider the risk of school opening to be manageable under strict hygiene requirements. This emerges from guidelines for the control of corona infections presented by Federal Education Minister Karliczek. However, she is reluctant to ask for quick openings.

Masks, regular ventilation, the formation of fixed groups, equalized student traffic and other infection protection measures can make school operations possible under corona conditions. This has now been confirmed in a joint set of guidelines from various scientific societies, experts and representatives from the school sector. The paper on the prevention and control of corona transmissions in schools was presented by Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek from the CDU.

However, it is not about the timing of possible school openings after the lockdown. No new measures will be presented either, but rather things will be looked at more closely that were and were already being implemented in schools during the pandemic. 40 existing studies from different countries on the benefits of such measures were evaluated. There is now a broad-based joint assessment of whether they will bring anything.

The paper is aimed at ministries, authorities, schools, teachers, pupils and parents. The formation of so-called cohorts in schools, i.e. the division of students into fixed large groups and separation, for example according to year or class, is therefore considered effective and recommended, depending on the infection process. If the number of infections is higher, it is recommended to divide between classes and to switch lessons.

When returning to face-to-face classes, primary school students should be the first to turn. The guideline recommends wearing medical masks in schools when there is a "high infection rate". "There are few health side effects associated with wearing masks. There is no evidence of possible harm from wearing a mask," the paper says. In the case of high corona numbers, it is also recommended to equalize school traffic and to wear surgical masks on the school bus.

Specific incidence figures are not given in the guideline. The paper also endorses the well-known ventilation recommendation of the Federal Environment Agency: every 20 minutes, three to five minutes of shock ventilation. A "suitable ventilation or air conditioning system" is referred to as equivalent. However, this does not mean mobile air purifiers. According to the recommendation, these devices should only be used "as a supplementary measure" if there is generally sufficient ventilation. There are also recommendations for music and physical education lessons and for dealing with students with a cold and suspected cases.

Karliczek before Federal-state consultations hesitant

Dealing with daycare centers and schools will certainly be one of the determining topics in the deliberations of the federal and state governments on Wednesday, said Karliczek. "Up to now, caution and prevention have been the decisive basis for the decisions made. (…) I still think that's right. We have to continue to be careful." If in the current situation a decision is made to open schools, it is important "that we are very, very careful, that we approach this topic step by step and always on a scientific basis".

With a view to the deliberations, Karliczek said: "I think (…) that there is broad consensus that now is not the time for frivolous easing so that we do not destroy the tedious successes of the past weeks against this virus . " In the evening, the culture ministers of the federal states also wanted to discuss how to proceed.