New Delhi: The Indian Preventive and Social Medical Association (IAPSM), a consortium from several leading public health experts in this country has strongly recommend reopening all schools in the country.
It issued an advisor who stated that the advantage of the resumption of academic activities was far greater than the risk involved, and that the government did not have to wait for vaccination among children to continue the classroom.
Dr.
Suneela Garg, President of IAPSM, told TOI that even the pre-school class had to continue.
“Many countries, for example Delhi, prioritize school opening for larger children.
There is no logic behind this.
If at all, the evidence shows, younger children have the lowest risk of severe infections and therefore we must Prioritize the opening of pre-school and basic classes, “he said.
IAPSM has distributed copies of its recommendations about the resumption of schools with the Ministry of Health Union, the Indian Medical Research Council, Niti Aayog and the Ministry of Education for the necessary actions.
There are two main problems traveling around sending children to school.
First, children are infected with SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and the risk of severe infections between them, and the second, children transmitted infections to other family members, especially elderly, advisory countries.
“Data from Indian countries, including the latest and fourth national sero surveys, shows that children have had Covid-19 infection at the same level or even higher than adults (mostly without symptoms and with a much lower level From moderate to severe illness).
Therefore, they have been protected and are not at an additional risk, “Advisor said.
About the fear of children who spread infection to family members, experts quoted reports from 15 countries at the school reopening and a surge in Covid-19 cases.
“Only three countries observed the increase in transmission due to the reopening of the school.
However, this surge was not scientifically proven to be associated with the attendance of the school,” the adviser said.
The school remains closed in most countries for more than a year because of the widespread cases of Covid-19.
Chandrakant Lahariya, a prominent public health expert and joint writer from IAPSM Advisory, said it caused serious problems for the physical and psychological well-being of children.
“Not all children have cellphones and laptops to attend virtual classes.
Also, this is not a long-term solution.
We have to open school,” Lahariya said.
While Delhi has a level of participants of less than 0.1%, countries such as Maharashtra and Kerala continue to have high levels of pepositives.
Dr.
Lahariya said that, if at all, local epidemiology can be taken into account for the closure of schools in certain areas to prevent the spread of future diseases.
Protection suggested by IAPSM while sustaining the school includes the right ventilation in the classroom, avoiding morning assembly for all schools and teacher training to identify respiratory symptoms.
Expert groups also recommend connecting schools to local health facilities or strengthening school health programs.
On the need for vaccination among children, IAPSM states that there is no evidence that vaccination for children is very important.
“In more than 175 countries, open schools but no countries in the world who have been vaccinated by children under 12 years.
The risk of moderate to severe illness is very low among children,” IAPSM said.