A student who shows symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while inside school premises or at their school bus who will test positive for the virus will force all of their fellow students, staff, teachers, bus attendants, drivers, and other close contacts to go on a 14-day quarantine.
A document obtained by The Filipino Times from The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai includes the aforementioned ruling as part of over 100 new protocols for the reopening of private schools in the emirate that ensure the safety of all students, staff, parents, and other individuals.
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“If a child/teacher/staff begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, they must get isolated instantly, and the parent/ guardian of the child to be notified immediately and the patient should be referred to the hospital to take the necessary action,” as per the new protocol.
KHDA also specified three scenarios for the student/patient:
– If the result is negative and there is a clinical assessment of a probable COVID-19 case, the patient should complete a 14-day quarantine.
– If the result is negative and there is no clinical assessment for a probable case, the child can resume schooling so long as they are symptom-free.
– If the result is positive, the traced contacts of the patient, including teachers along with the classmates of a student, or colleagues are all considered close contacts (Anyone who spent more than 15 minutes in a proximity of 2 metres with the positive case, from the day of symptoms onset, or the day of the positive PCR test). They should all commence the 14-day quarantine counted PCR from the day of the positive test, or from the day of the onset of symptoms if ascertained by the clinician.
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While the government has yet to formally announce any specific date of school reopenings, KHDA has already prepared a list of safety guidelines to ensure a smooth transition from distance learning to an actual physical classroom set up when the academic year recommences in the country.
