Schools reopening - In TN, students to be tested for co-morbid conditions
Posted on: 09/Nov/2020 9:09:25 AM
Recently, the chief minister of TN Mr. E. Palaniswami made many heads turn when he announced the reopening of schools from 16th November for the students belonging to the classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 plus for the colleges, research institutes etc in TN. It is now mentioned that the TN students would undergo medical screening for co-morbid conditions in them.
Point is that the doctors belonging to RBSK or Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram would be screening the government school students. It must be noted that the private schools in TN must conduct health check-ups and submit details to the government.
It must be recalled that the educational institutions in Chennai and in TN have been closed since March to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection. For the reopening of the schools, the TN government is gearing up is well known to us.
Orders have been issued from the directorate to the deputy directors of health services and to the GCC health officers to share SOPs and information brochures with the institution management in TN.
After reopening, the schools would be able to handle the students as long as the students follow the standard operating procedures or SOPs. It is possible to prevent the Covid-19 spread with 50pecent attendance plus with the use of facemasks and by maintaining social distancing. This was according to Dr. T.S. Selvavinayagam, director of public health. He added that despite SOPs if outbreak occurs then the system would be able to handle it effectively.
It was mentioned by the principal of MCC Higher Secondary School Mr. G.J. Manohar that opinion from the parents would be got in writing on Monday. In TN, the schools should be able to handle the students as long as they follow standard operating procedures. This was as per the guidelines issued by the government. It is expected that the high schools would begin with 50% of attendance.
On Sunday, 8th November, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provided an update and according to that as many as 711,198 Covid-19 patients have been cured and there are just 18966 active cases in TN.
