Federal Institute of Public Health: Recommendations for Schools and Pupils

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Federal Institute of Public Health has issued Recommendations for the safe conduct of classes in the context of COVID-19.

Education and Organization

Educate staff, parents, and pupils about COVID-19, including symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent transmission. Stay informed about COVID-19 through reputable sources such as health institutions, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. Be aware of misinformation/myths that may circulate by word of mouth or online. Educate all staff and pupils, and to the greatest extent possible, parents about the measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as their importance.

Update or develop school emergency plans. These plans must include responsible persons, activities to be undertaken in case a pupil, staff member, or their household members are ill with suspected COVID-19; as well as a designated room or area for isolating the sick person. The plan should include contact with the local competent health institution, which school staff should contact in the aforementioned case, as well as with parents.

Regardless of how classes begin, plan models for conducting classes for pupils who must be in self-isolation, as well as for parents and pupils who belong to vulnerable groups (chronic illnesses). Plan mental support programs and take care of the mental health of staff and pupils during the pandemic.

Basic Principles of Prevention

Basic principles: wearing masks for pupils (younger children should wear masks outside the classroom, but not during class), wearing masks for teaching and other staff, maintaining adequate physical distance, maintaining hand hygiene. Cloth masks are recommended, which should be washed regularly. Pupils, teachers, and other staff should stay home if they or someone in their household has symptoms related to COVID-19 (main symptoms are elevated body temperature, cough, loss of smell/taste, malaise; other symptoms: pain, headache, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, skin rash). Pupils, teachers, and other staff should stay home if they test positive for COVID-19 or are in isolation. Stay home also if they have recently been in contact with a person infected with COVID-19.

Through the education of staff, pupils, and parents, recommend vigilant monitoring of health status, especially possible signs of COVID-19, and timely contact with school teaching staff and competent health services. Relevant information can be found on the website of the Institute of Public Health of FBiH (http://www.zzjzfbih.ba).

Schools must ensure regular hand washing with soap and water, and hand disinfection with alcohol-based sanitizers (min 60%). Place visual instructions at hand washing/disinfection stations or ensure staff supervision. Clean and disinfect school buildings, classrooms, and especially sanitary facilities at least twice a day, especially frequently touched surfaces (handrails, desks, sports equipment, door and window handles, toys, learning aids, etc.). Use standard cleaning agents for cleaning; for room disinfection, preparations based on chlorine are recommended. Use all these agents according to the manufacturer's instructions.

It is necessary to ensure adequate ventilation of school premises. Whenever weather conditions permit, it is recommended that a certain number of windows or doors in occupied rooms be open; otherwise, open them during breaks and between shifts. Pay attention to safety and health risks.

Organizing meals in schools is not recommended. Pupils should bring their own snacks and eat them in the classroom, instead of in the canteen or other common areas. Organizing extended stay in elementary schools is not recommended. If it is necessary to organize it, then we recommend that it be in permanent groups of up to 10 pupils, that each group stays in a separate room, and that mixing between groups be prevented. If there is organized transport for pupils, drivers should apply all recommendations for public transport and educate parents and pupils about the importance of adhering to these measures during transport. Advise parents and pupils to avoid using public city transport whenever possible. Schools must promote maintaining a minimum physical distance of 2 m.

Recommended measures for maintaining physical distance include:

- Organize the start and end of classes each day so that the number of pupils in corridors and at entrances/exits at the same time is as small as possible.
- Reduce the number of pupils in a group/class to the smallest possible number (10-15 pupils per class/group) and prevent unnecessary mixing between groups/classes. The distance between seating places must be at least 2 m.
- Cancel long breaks, and during short breaks between classes, pupils should not leave the classrooms.
- Shorten classes to 30 minutes and limit the number of classes per day (up to 5).
- Cancellation of gatherings, sports games, and other events that create crowds.
- In physical education, it is recommended to perform only individual exercises, and to organize them outdoors when weather conditions permit.