Single COVID case in schools unlikely to lead to a shutdown
With most of the territory’s students now allowed to return to face-to-face learning, Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley said it is unlikely that a COVID-19 case in any of the territory’s classrooms may lead to a shutdown of that school.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, the minister pointed to existing protocols in place and said they are designed to help mitigate a potential outbreak of the virus.
And as instructed by the territory’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), if a child is found to be COVID-19 positive in a school, the first step to be taken is for the public health team to be notified for contact tracing to be done.
Dr Wheatley said the team will then gather enough information to make a determination as to whether the entire class should be sent home or whether the entire school should be shut down.
“It’s unlikely that they will shut down an entire school for a COVID-19 class,” Dr Wheatley stated.
However, he noted that the information gathered by these officials would be important in being able to determine what the next steps will be since there are a variety of factors that need to be considered when making such decisions.
In this regard, the minister explained that there was no set number of cases “where something (a particular course of action) kicks in”.
Plan surrounding health protocols to be updated
Dr Wheatley said while there is currently a plan in place for COVID-19 in schools. Nonetheless, he has asked the Chief Education Officer to consult with the CMO and the public health team to update this plan.
The minister said the updated plan will offer more details for what happens in the event of cases occurring in schools.
In a recent update to the territory, Dr Wheatley said school schedules will outline lunch and break periods in a staggered manner to ensure control of students gathering in groups.
He further pointed out that the BVI now has the capabilities to switch to online or to hybrid learning as the need may arise.
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CONTINGENCY PLAN???? WE NOW IN AUGUST! WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE SUMMER?
Has the minister of education been on any school campus during the last school year without announcing himself so that he sees the true daily situation?
Why do you all keep talking about covid 19 protocols when the territory school environments were breaking these the whole time they were open and will continue to do so?
Disaster in the making Mr minister. Disaster because if one child is sick in a class of 20 thats 20 households with say an average of 2 adults working at 40 different places.
I feel sorry for us if we really think that the protocols in place were ever in any real effect.
Plus you have no real plan in place as to how to handle an exposed classroom.
And tracing is really a bandaid on an already infected sore. If we cannot be more vigilant in prevention on campus from prinicipal down you are about to repeat the death toll of July.
And no mention is made of what a parent’s options are if they do not want their children in your constant exposure risk classrooms. And don’t tell me about your unused protocols here.
Forced contact Mr. Minister? Where is the parent choice?
Please ensure that whatever plan is made is the best for the territory kids.
I’m sorry, but our education system is run by an educated f**l. Your plan is not realistic.
Students, for face-to-face instructions, generally ignored COVID-19 protocols. Some teachers enforced when students were in class, but students would disregard during break and lunch periods.
An appeal to parents: Please stress to your child/children the importance of adhering to protocols.